Democracy hindering me from dealing with corrupt Nigerians – President says

chika ebuzor

December 4, 2017 9:59 PM

The President said that he arrested and jailed many corrupt people when he was a military dictator.

President Buhari has said that the democratic setting does not give him the free hand to deal with corrupt Nigerians.

According to Vanguard, the President said that he arrested and jailed many corrupt people when he was a military dictator.

Buhari also said that when it comes to the fight against corruption, Nigerians cannot be satisfied.

The President said this in in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire, while speaking to members of the Nigerian community.

Buhari said “I have said it that this is my second time like Gen. Obasanjo. When I came as a young man and in uniform, I arrested former ministers and governors and put them in Kirirkiri. All of you know Kirikiri. I told them that they are guilty until they can prove themselves innocent and it didn’t bother me because I was a youth and in uniform so I didn’t care about anybody.

“But now that I am back, everybody is innocent until I can prove them guilty. And at the same time the same Nigerians are saying we are too slow. So what can you do really? You can only try but I am telling you that you can never satisfy our people back home.

“You know, when I was young and ruthless as a soldier I did what I did, somebody came, locked me up and gave them back their money and their houses. I went back into politics and after trying three times and ending up in Supreme Court, the fourth time God agreed and here I am.

ALSO READ: Dogara not impressed with President Buhari's anti-corruption war

“But when I came, what I found out is terrible. It is absolutely terribly but I’ll keep on doing my best because I volunteered to come, I have come, I have met what was on the ground and I hope I will make an impression.”

Buhari’s one-sided corruption fight

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constantly maintained that the anti-corruption war of the APC led government is selective.

Recently, following the $25 billion contract scam rocking the NNPC, the Ekiti State governor, President Buhari of shielding his cronies.

You will recall that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu had accused the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, of awarding the multi-billion dollar contracts without the knowledge of the Corporation board.

Also, the Arewa Youths Forum (AYF) has said that Buhari is no longer interested in fighting corruption.

According to the President of the group, with which he began.

Gujungu said that the alleged corruption case involving the Secretary-General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke shows that Buhari’s war against corruption has lost steam.

chika ebuzor