“If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, whom we came all the way right from the APP, CPC and APC, and have remained together in good or bad situation; the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong?
President Muhammadu Buhari made these points yesterday while answering questions on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa programme monitored in Abuja, Nigeria federal capital territory.
Describing the criticism that trailed his recent appointments of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and heads of para-military establishment, President Buhari said: “this is the nature of Nigerian politics.”
He argued that the Constitution allows him full control over the choice of his closest officials, and made it clear that the appointments also served as reward for those who remained loyal to him for years, who refused to be lured by power or material wealth.
“If they will do justice to me, as an elected Nigerian president, let them look at the Constitution on who a Nigerian President should works with. There are people who will closely work with me that don’t need to be taken to the Senate. I have been with them throughout our trying times, what then is the reward of such dedication and suffering?
“They did not defect because of positions; they did not involve themselves in the pursuit of personal gains, and they accepted their fate throughout our trying moments. What is wrong if I make you the secretary (of the federal government) because I have confidence that things will go normal?”
The president also spoke on Chibok girls, saying that the girls, who were abducted in April 2014 by Boko Haram, had been dispersed and were kept in units at different locations. He said many of the girls had been forced to convert to Islam.
“They have scattered them, and are being guarded at dispersed locations. Most of the girls are Christians and were forced to embrace Islam. And the sect’s cruel leaders have married some of the girls, obviously against their wish. Others have been left to practice their religion but their condition could hardly be ascertained.
“Both ground and air security personnel in the Sambisa forest could spot where the girls are, but since the insurgents have also kidnapped housewives and other women, no one could say whether they mixed them or how they dispersed them.” [myad]
