I have no property outside of Nigeria – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says no one can blackmail him with unexplained riches and illicit enrichment while in office, saying, “I don’t have a square inch outside of Nigeria.”

Speaking at a state banquet Monday night hosted in his honor at Damaturuthe state capital of Yobe, the president reaffirmed his vow to serve God and Nigeria until his last day in office and beyond.

He advised Nigerians to remain patriotic, saying “as I said more than 30 years ago, we have no other country but Nigeria, we must all stay here and save it together.”

Noting that the most critical security challenge inherited by the administration nearly eight years ago was the potent and pervasive threat of terrorism, the President welcomed the return of normality to the affected states in north-eastern Nigeria.

He reported that the threat was particularly widespread in the geopolitical zone of the northeast, with Yobe state being one of the most affected by terrorists.

Therefore, he stated that he has fulfilled the commitment made to Nigerians in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 to bravely confront Boko Haram terrorists head-on and stabilize the country.

”In the northeast, God has helped us clean up Boko Haram, the economy has recovered, and some people ask me about the achievements of my promise to fight corruption.

“Well, under this system fighting corruption is not easy. When I was in the military, as Head of State, I locked up some people because the Constitution says you have to declare your assets and people who couldn’t explain the differences in their assets, I locked them up.

”In the end, they also locked me up. So if you want to serve this country, you have to be prepared for the worst. But one thing I’m thankful to God for is that no one can blackmail me. I don’t have a square inch outside of Nigeria and I intend to stay in Nigeria when I retire from civil service.”

Reflecting on his path to the presidency and re-election, the president said:

”Between 2003 and 2019 I visited every local government area in this country. In 2019 when I ran for re-election I visited every state and the number of people who came to see who this Buhari is and was is more than anyone can afford or force.

“So, I thank God that Nigerians have understood me and I promised that I will serve God and Nigerians.”

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President Buhari praised Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni for taking advantage of the return of peace and security in the state to implement people-oriented projects.

Describing the governor as highly competent and courageous, the president said he was lucky to have him in the saddle as a political leader in the state, supporting federal efforts to decimate the Boko Haram terror group.

The president also acknowledged the cooperation of Nigeria’s neighbors in the fight against the insurgency, recalling that his first visit outside the country in 2015 was to Niger and Chad, to rally support in the fight against the rogue sect.

President Buhari thanked the Governor and the people of Yobe State, including Senate President Ahmad Lawan, for their warm reception during the state visit.

In his remarks, Governor Buni welcomed the president’s inauguration of flagship projects in the state, including the Yobe International Cargo Airport, the ultra-modern Damaturu market, the Maternal and Child Health Complex at the University Teaching Hospital Yobe State University, Housing Estate 2600 in Potiskum and Damaturu Mega School in new Bra-Bra.

He appealed to the president to approve the federal government’s takeover of Yobe State International Cargo Airport and reimbursement of 38 billion naira spent by the state government on the project.

Likewise, it requested the inauguration of the State University Teaching Hospital, including the Maternal and Child Health Complex.

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Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, thanked the president for inaugurating a specially designed, ultra-modern and fully furnished State Command Headquarters; Police High School; and the Police Tertiary Hospital during the State Visit.

The IGP assured the President and Nigerians that the Nigerian Police are fully prepared for the upcoming 2023 General Election and would remain apolitical in accordance with the Presidential directive.

He revealed that the recently passed out agents are being dispatched to field operations in their Local Government Areas in accordance with the directives of Mr. President and ahead of their deployment for the General Elections.

“In addition to this, we have exposed our staff to specialized training in electoral security management, developed a Code of Conduct Manual to guide the Police and other national security agencies that will participate in the exercise,” he said.

He added that the Force also perfected the framework for logistics and labor mobilization, and fine-tuned the Electoral Security Operational Action Plan in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Community, and other Agencies. Sisters Security.

The IGP thanked the President for the annual recruitment of ten thousand police officers over a five-year period, adding that the presidential consideration has significantly reduced the manpower gap in the Force and greatly strengthened its ability to police the electoral process effectively.

femi adesina

special adviser to the president

(Media and advertising)

January 10, 2023