Former Head of State and
Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),
Major General Muhammadu Buhari has faulted the federal government’s
clampdown on Boko Haram Islamic insurgents.
He accused the government of killing and destroying their houses
while the Niger Delta militants were given special treatment by the
government.
Buhari who spoke on Sunday on a
Liberty Radio programme, Guest of the Week monitored in Kaduna also
admitted that the road to the registration of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) was rough, pointing out that the promoters of the party
were well prepared for any hitch that may arise.
Buhari who first spoke in Hausa
before the English version accused politicians from the Niger Delta
region of starting the current in security in the country by recruiting
and arming youths of the region in their desperate attempt to retain
power as governors.
The former Nigerian leader said
that unlike the special treatment given to the Niger Delta militants by
the federal government, the Boko Haram members were being killed and
their houses demolished by government.
While accusing President
Jonathan of failing from the beginning to address the security situation
in the country, Buhari said he has never been in support of the state
of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa state.
According to Buhari “what is
responsible for the security situation in the country is caused by the
activities of Niger Delta militants. Every Nigerian that is familiar
with what is happening knows this. The Niger Delta militants started it
all.
“What happened is that the
governors of the Niger Delta region at that time wanted to win their
elections. So they recruited the youths and gave them guns and bullets
and used them against their opponents to win elections by force.
“After the elections were over,
they asked the boys to return the guns; the boys refused to return the
guns. Because of that, the allowance that was being given to the youths
by the governors during that time was stopped.
“The youths resorted to
kidnapping oil workers and were collecting dollars as ransom. Now a boy
of 18 to 20 years was getting about 500 dollars in a week, why will he
go to school and spend 20 years to study and then come back and get
employed by government to be paid N100,000 a month, that is if he is
lucky to get employment.
“So kidnapping becomes very rampant in the South -South and the South -East. They kidnapped people and were collecting money.
“How did Boko Haram start? We know that their leader, Mohammed
Yusuf started his militant and the police couldn’t control them and the
army was invited. He was arrested by soldiers and handed over to the
police.
“The appropriate thing to do, according to the law, was for the
police to carry out investigations and charge him to court for
prosecution, but they killed him, his in-law was killed, they went and
demolished their houses.
“Because of that, his supporters resorted to what they are doing
today. You see in the case of the Niger Delta militants, the late
President Umaru Musa Yar’adua sent an aeroplane to bring them, he sat
down with them and discussed with them, they were cajoled, and they were
given money and granted amnesty.
“They were trained in some skills and were given employment, but
the ones in the north were being killed and their houses were being
demolished. They are different issues, what brought this? It is
injustice”.
While fielding questions in
English in the same programme, Buhari said that the promoters of the All
Progressive Congress (APC) were aware of the challenges ahead of them
in an effort to get the party registered, saying “the road to merger is
quite rough.
“The ruling party, with its
enormous resources and its capacity for coercion has seen it as a threat
and they have said it. Personally, I came to realise since 2007 that
Nigerians believe that the only way to stabilise the system of
multi-party democracy is for the opposition parties that have
representatives right from Councillors to the National Assembly come
together to deliver their constituencies democratically. This is the
only way you can counter PDP’s enormous physical and material influence
in the country”
He expressed optimism that the
All Progressive Congress will be registered saying “by nature, I am an
optimist. If I were not an optimist, I will not attempt to contest the
presidency three times and end up in the Supreme Court three times. I
believe we are going to be registered.
“There is a law guiding party
registration which states that you must have your headquarters in the
nation’s capital that can be identified by INEC and you must have a
convention. All the three parties involved have held their conventions
and have agreed to forsake our existing parties and go for APC.
“At the national level, we must
have those who will run the party. As soon as we meet these criteria
and INEC acknowledge that, 30 days after the acknowledgement, we are APC
whether INEC write us and give us the registration or not”.
Speaking on the controversy
surrounding the election of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Buhari said
since the forum was not a legal body, he saw no reason for the
controversy saying “the confusion is unfortunate.
“To me, the Governors forum is
not constitutional and it is not a party affair because they are
supposed to come from all the parties. There is no constitutional law as
far as I can see. So, why all these row about it.
“I watched the clip of the
election which seems to have been conducted in a free and fair way. But
then, Jang came and said he won the election when we saw visibly on the
screen how they conducted the election.
“The man who presided over the
election declared the result there and then. I was surprised how Jang
emerged and said he was the one that won the election and proceeded to
open his own secretariat.
“So, if 36 of them can not
conduct an election, Nigerians should begin to appreciate what we are in
for when they are supposed to be conducting an election for over 140
million people by 2015”.
He however said that he was
prepared to support anybody who emerge Presidential candidate of the All
Progressive Congress (APC), saying “If APC fail to give me the ticket, I
will remain in partisan politics and in the party. Anyone the party
pick as its candidate, I will support him because I will remain in the
APC”.
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Buhari you are a poor politician. You are always wrapped up in hectic controversies. You have always potray yourself as Mr.Perfect what an irony. Your laughable political strategy will only turn you into a serial pathetic looser. Last time in PH you thought your tears could attract a sympaty vote... Hahaha... You know damn well that you are a weakling. When you were the Head of State Idiagbon was your strenght; when you were PTF Chairman the Draconian ruler in person of Abacha gave you the leverage. Look at your attrocities; You topple a democratic govt,you served in one of the most Dangerous military govt of Abacha, you incited street urchins to unleash terror on innocent Nigerians and now you want us to support you. Are we crazy? How dare you insult our sensibility?
ReplyDeleteSomeone should get this man arrested.
ReplyDeleteAs in eh.... why is this guy still walking around free? He should be arrested, haba
DeleteBuhari, how many innocent people did the Niger Delta militants Kill? We all knew what the militants were fighting for, what are the Boko haram idiots fighting for, to make Nigeria an Islamic state? I am so disappointed in you that you will use this issue as a tool for propaganda. Nigeria NO LONGER NEEDS LEADERS LIKE you who will vow to make the country ungovernable because they lost election. God sees your heart and knows what is in it. If you are planning evil for this country, you will never get the chance to be president again.
ReplyDeletefools unproductive elements
ReplyDeleteAll hausa people should free themselves from thier fulani rulers who use lies a and deceit in sending them to early graves while they claim oil blocks and enjoy the wealth of a nation they don't even belong to. Hausaman wake up!
ReplyDeleteBuhari is the best man, we are happy to have him in our generation. Poeple who's doesn't know him well always said sort of things about Buhari, I believed you are the man to change all these nonsense of PDP. Up Buhari, Up APC.
ReplyDelete@ezekeri audu! It shows how useless a human being can be. We don't want unscrupulous people like you and Buhari. It shows clearly that Buhari is behind boko haram uprising, the truth must come out by then your and buhari will cover your face in shame.
DeleteDear General Sir,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honest opinion, I do not quite understand how or when the office of the President of Nigeria became a tribal or factional head/entity, the individual might be from a certain tribe but the office belongs to the entire nation.
Please know that power belongs to God, God gives it to whom He please and by now it should be obvious that you will never be President of Nigeria no matter how hard you try!
Buhari you have succesful revealed your true identity.you are a patetic sadist.i am forom southwest nigeria.but your interview shows you do not have this nation at heart.how can you compare the niger delta militants with boko haram.though i am not justifying militants but they dont go after christians or churches to kill.it seems you support them.you have never come out one day to condemn the boko haram only attacking this govt.your regime was worse in human rights violations.read the handwriting on the wall.God is against you.the blood bath you caused in the north last presidential election will cry to allah against you.loser
ReplyDeleteAmin! Formaer Genaral Buhari, Allah is washing over all the altruistities you are causing in Nigeria
DeleteBoko Haram are Jihad Fighters killing Christians and military men trying to capture Nigeria as a Country for only Muslim to live. Is Buhari saying that he is happy with what Boko Haram are doing. Nigerian beware of Buhari and Beware of APC.
ReplyDeleteSombody should tell Buhari that Boko Haram rejected Amnesty saying They have done no wrong to be giving amnesty and became even more deadly after then.
ReplyDeleteMay be Buhari is now suffering from Amnesia,it bit my imargination that people still follow this man.@ Zekeri I sympathize with you.
Hah,now is see how this buhari man reasons. So you re comparing the Niger Delta militancy to boko haram issue? Wha a shame. Let me ask,when did the Niger Delta militant went churches,schools,prisons,police station,Market places or street to open fire on civilians?if you can compare the death tolls of boko haram to militant in the south then you are in order for what you re saying but if not there is no difference between you and a 2 year old child reasoning. For the state of emergency came in a bit late but is better late than ever,anybody that picks up arms to disort the peace of the country should be killed.Kodus to the army fighting criminals,keep killing them for us they are not fit to exist amongst normal citizen.Kill them all for me please.
ReplyDeleteThis man's level of insanity amazes me. Does he have people that advice him?
ReplyDeleteFor APC 2 succeed buhari shouldn't make attempt 2 think of running for president under its party..someone should have advised not 2 make stupid statements in support of boko haram.We welcome a formidable party such as d APC 2 challenge d PDP..please buhari don't make us not 2 support APC.
ReplyDeletePeople its about time we took this general less serious. He has lost touch with reality and is seeking to remain political relevant with his unethical and childish antics. His submission on this issue of amnesty shows that all the while he has been directly or indirectly linked with this BOKO HARAM nonsense. Again, each time this general speaks he does not speak as a nation's patriot but as a sessional apologist who has no interest in this ''project Nigeria'' rather his preoccupation is North, North, North. Is this the man we can entrust the fate of this nation in his hands? The answer is CAPITAL NO. I rest my case for now.
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell Buhari dat we need peace and unity in this country. In his analysis he has shown he is for boko haram. God is going to judge him.
ReplyDeleteSome one said "... To finish Buhari, just hand him a mic, and from his words you can easily conclude on him! What a terrible human being he is"
ReplyDeleteIf APC really wnts to win elections n out do PDP, then Buhari shud be excommunicated frm the party. It is now vry clear that Buhari is a major player in Boko Haram's activities for him to come out in the media to say wat he is saying. Nigerians are vry happy abt the coming of APC but Buhari comments n attitude will change the mind sets of many Nigeria youths. Niger delta militants nver 4 once bomb muslims, soldiers, churches, market places, school, or motor park killing innocent civilians. we need peace to develop. Am frm niger delta n Bayelsa to be precise, most PDP governos are not doing well so we need change and we welcome the idea of APC bcos our future is in our hands. I wish APC all the best, God bless the Governmnt n give them grace to do more.
ReplyDeleteAll the critics of Buhari here, and as always, are tribalists and people with no serious reasoning of happenings in this country. I don't have anything as a person to do with Buhari, but I strongly believe that would have been the best President for this rotten country. Sentiments, ethnic and regional sentiments remain our major problem and with this, Nigeria will always remain the way it is - chaotic!
ReplyDeleteGen. Buhari, you were once the Head of State of our great nation even though, you usurped power from a democratic government. Thereby, breaching the provisions of the 1979 constitution which you suspended. I am surprised that an elder statesman like you could be arguing like a regional representative. Maybe, you should limit yourself to a senatorial ambition. Your argument is appalling. Please, help build the nation, not divide. Learn from the likes of Shagari, Gowon, Shonekan and Abdulsalam.
ReplyDeletePlease publish my comments.
ReplyDeletepeople should understand that Buhari doesnt compare this present Boko Haram with that of Niger Delta millitant. He is comparing with the old people i.e. the followers of Late Ahmed Yusuf who was murdered by the police after been arrested by the soldiers. Anybody who watch the video clip of what happen then will know that injustice that warrant uprising was done. The recent Boko Haram has international dimension and are not Late Ahmed Yusuf followers. Nobody in the north including Buhari himself is safe. Buhari has never supported the recent Boko haram, he always say it is PDP issue and only the fed govt can solve it and they should do. No country in this world where those terrorist operate and the president of that country will not know of it and GEJ does not disapprove this. He (GEJ) decided to keep quiet and allow wanton destruction and killings to be done before settling them through amnesty and state of emergency on their ignorant foot soldiers. This is what Buhari is saying. Lets be patriotic, understand issues, ask from people living in the north not what you read from media alone before commenting. From what the northerners has faced in this BH menace, nobody no matter how highly placed, could be known to be involved or sponsor that will live peacefully among us again. beware. concerned youth from kano.
ReplyDeleteCut this long talk. Has he condemned the mass killings or not?
DeleteBUHARI, how many Nigerians did u kill when u were the Head-of-State?
ReplyDeleteOur people say " One Good turn deserves another!" If u knew u would want to govern Nigeria again, u should have been good then!
Buhari is simply an Islamist extremist/Jihadist. He has no place in modern history and should be in jail for all his undemocratic utterances. It is only in Nigeria that someone who was a brutal dictator and audaciously supports terrorism will be walking free and making unreasonable comments. Jonathan should gather some balls and ensure that this man is charged for terrorism and treason. Heavens will not fall!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the interest Buhari in this Boko Haram issue? Are they his boys?
ReplyDeleteMr general..u amazed me ..wen eva u make a statement abt boko haram an militant of niger delta....no body in his ryt sense wil compare wt dis useless gud 4 ntin bokoharam r doing in d north...militant r fightin 4 they ryt..wt abt boko haram fighting 4 wt wil neva be done in millions yrs 2 cm...mr General...i dnt tink Nigerian wil entrust they fate in u...go home an rest...a general lyk u...need gud rest an live d wrk 4 pple hu cn handle dis nation....i rest my case 4 nw.
ReplyDeleteIf Buhari is sane and have sympathy for B H, why did he reject the opportunity given him to talk the this senseless group. We all know that you are one of the financials of B H and nemesis will catch up with you not too long from now.
ReplyDeleteAnybody,group of people, party or another country that is planning blood bath in Nigeria in 2015 just because the election did not favor him or them, my father God in heaven, the creator of all human race and universe, I pray that you cut his or their lives short from this earth ,may he or them never live to see 2015 in Jesus' Name. It's God who made Nigeria and put every thing and everyone in it, as such, He has the final say in this country and in 2015 and not mere human that can one day sleep and not wake again for life.
ReplyDeleteBuhari, people making comment against you is not out of hatred but out of the political practical events that has happened in your time till date, therefore, Nigerians’ cannot be fool by voting you into power again, your time has passed, just accept your fate and leave Nigeria alone instead of making empty noise up and down, we don’t want do or die affairs president and we don’t want boko haram president because, we still believe the glory of this country will shine again, it may not be in the hand of the present president nor the past for God has a purpose for this country, therefore buried your head in shame because you all both the past and the present has fail Nigerians woefully, you people have expired, even if you use force you cannot rule Nigeria again, trust my beloved country.
ReplyDeletethis general should be sent to 'yaba left' fr the rest of his God forsaken life....
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIts unfortunate Buhari is still walking around the streets after making Nigeria ungovernable. Its obvious he's one of Boko Haram's sponsors. How can Buhari be president of Nigeria when he cannot differenciate between the agitation of Niger Delta Militants and Boko Haram's senseless killings? So sad this man is still walking the streets granting useless interviews intead of being in jail by now.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is not for, he is boko haram. Everyone who has conducted even an hour investigation knows that Buhari is the chief and highest sponsor of boko haram. They don't call them boko haram in the north, they call them northern elders. Jonathan can only win this war if he goes after all members of northern elders after removing the current miscriants they are using to kill in the streets. If he allows the likes of Buhari and his cohorts to be talking from the two sides of their mouth, they will arm another set of jobless illegal desert immigrants and some brainless youths will join them again in the name of a senseless religion. Jonathan should go after the root cause now, not only the symptoms. Buhari is major root cause.
ReplyDeleteBuhari, you where never a true soldier!!! We all know that soldiers are perfect gentlemen! how can a religious fanatic like you creep-into the Army!
ReplyDeleteYou have & never will you lead this country again... We all know that it was your assistant when you were head of state that was ruling...
NO-wonder at his visit to the Holy land you where overthrown without any force!
Buhari, BE silent YOU COWARD & let real MEN do the TALKING!!!
Pls my dear bros nd sis let's use our minds nd brains wen ever we are talking.let's b realistic.we shld not b using vulgar words abusing elders bcos we have parents nd if any one abuses our own parents nobody wil b happy.jst pass ur comment nd ur view but restict urself frm abusing pplkes parents its very hurtin pls my fellow nigerians.
ReplyDeleteMy brother,i did not support use of dirty language on an elderly person.
DeleteI voted in Gmb in the last election which i have no regret up till today. Hoever if u are close to him as i suspected pls advice him on boko haram issue. Killing of innocent souls is never a remedy to national issue. Bh modus operandi is totally different from other millitant groups in this country.
Who are you calling an elder? So a person who does a coup and forcefully removes a democratic government is a leader or a treasonous criminal? Nigerians should get to learn what true leadership means and stop this warped view on who has dignity
Deleteits obvious dat buhari is a big joke,we dnt need dis kind of person as a president..pls someone shuld remind dis joker dat d office of d president of d federal republic of Nigeria is not and can neva be a tribal office.let dis man stop playing wit our intelligence,am very sure dat he can neva win an election in dis country,if apc endorses him,i pity dem,dat means dey will loose.
ReplyDeleteBuhari we have known u, I thought that u will begin 2 tell Nigerians what u have done 4 Nigeria and what u intend 2 do. But rather u tell us what will divide Nigeria. Its ok.
ReplyDeleteMost of those dogs barking at gen buhari has nottin serious against him, they were only barking at him for just 2 to 3 reasons:1-bcos he is a MUSLIM&4rm the north:2-they see him as an obstacle & a bigger treat to their oga‘s political ambition:3-barking wow,wow,wow and calling him all kinds of names to obey the order giving by their corrupt mind leaders and to glading their oga‘s mind for a little token and plate of food giving to them, bcos i‘m sure some the idiots did not care or take their time to go trough that article but by mere seen the pic and the names they start to comments nonsense. Anywaysha,that is the major problems that the dogs has if they see a streanger they bark at him even if the streanger comes with a good intentions. But by the way my humble gen, if some of those statement i read on this page today are sincerely your statement with out misquotations and misinterpretations from the press, then i have no options than to say to you.with due respect my gen, i disagree with you on some few matters regarding to your statement on this article.
ReplyDeleteI laugh when people like Buhari talk about militancy in Niger Delta.The produce oil so the have the right to protest.What do u produce?Buhari,how many churches and mosques were destroyed by the NigerDeltans? Compare their scope to what is obtainable in the Boko haram kingdom.Buhari is simply mischievious.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with Buhari is that he cannot accept that his voice is no longer one worthy to be heard by Nigerians. He lost my respect for him when he demonstrated that he cannot accept defeat and speak for the common progress of Nigeria. How many Niger delta militants and civilians were killed before they accepted gov't carrot? Atleast their struggle was clearly defined: what is BH clamoring for and who is their target?....
ReplyDeleteBuhari is a disappointment to democracy and should be rejected with our votes during polls even if it means perpetrating illegality. It is unfortunate that such a beast headed this country. Judgment awaits you over innocent Nigerian souls. We are waiting for you on the polls.
ReplyDeleteNigerians, please reject this beast called Buhari with your votes. He is a disappointment to democracy - a butcher.
ReplyDeleteI FEEL SORRY FOR THIS GENERAL.ONCE HE COMMANDS THE ATTENTION OF THE PEOPLE BUT RECENTLY EVEN THOSE WHO WERE SYMPATHETIC TO HIS VIEWS HAVE DESERTED HIM FOR WANT OF PATRIOTIC SPIRIT AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. GENERAL, YOU CAN SEE IF WE GO BY WHAT WE HAVE HERE TO REPRESENT PEOPLES OPPINION ABOUT YOU, SURE YOU CAN QUITE AGREE WITH ME THAT YOUR CLOUD HAS DEMINISHED AND IS FAST WANING AWAY. I WLL ADVICE YOU TO GO AND ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT AND LEAVE POLITICS YOU ARE NOT A GOOD POLITICIAN THOUGH A GOOD SOLDIER.
ReplyDeleteBuhari,it has now clear that you are the major sponsor of Boko Haram,when they were killing people like cockroach you couldn't do anything but when FG declared war on them you are talking,it is Bette to keep ur mouth shut forever
ReplyDeleteMr buhari I tink is high time to convince us on why we shuld vote u stop lamenting tell us what u ll do 4 us nd our dear country BH we not be 4 ever writ down ur a ganders.
ReplyDeleteI think APC wil b making d biggest mistake of dia life by presenting Buhari as dia presidential candidate in 2015.
ReplyDeleteThis is rather unfortunate for a leader who once ruled this country.
ReplyDeleteThe record is straight, Boko haram targeted and killed christens who goes to worship their God whether the ones during the Yusuf era and even the present once, they have the same agenda, to islamise this country, besides, the rejected the amnesty.
General Buhari, Boko Haram is also a creation of the political class.
You are religiously biase therefore those who are adherent of other faith are not safe under your leadership.
Your co-travelers should know by now that their candidate is not sellable.
Buhari, sorry.
This is what u get when u grant an interview to any idiot. When people kill at random , destroy banks and buildings then most importantly have an impossible mission you do not have option than to wage war against them..its kill or be killed
ReplyDeleteMy colleagues younger brother and friend were singled out and shot dead on a street in Kano purposely because they are Christians and dressed like southerners , not minding that their mother had served the kano state General hospital for years . Now for such a family, Buhari obviously will justify the killing . This is a shame to whoever would have supported this man in any way . We are witnesses to the deaths of Dele Giwa , Ken Saro wiwa etc in the hands of the so called Northern leaders , if what they want Sharia which is what BH is pushing , they should come together and request to exit ... there is absolutely nothing wrong with that .
ReplyDeleteMr.President Sir, from your network of intelligence, is Buhari a terrorist?
ReplyDeleteif yes, then what are you doing about it?
or are you just remaining silent for the helpless masses of this country to fight for you?
please provide reasons for us not to believe that Buhari is not a terrorist.
i rest my case for now.
M.O.
i dont like the way all of you talk about and insult the general.... from my medical experience, na amnesia and old age dey worry my man... just bear a lil more with him...please no vex...
ReplyDelete