President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the security crisis in the Northeast has been largely fueled by unemployment and poverty.
The President stated this during an exclusive interview with a team of Arise Television executives, led by its Chairman, Prince Nduka Obaigbena.
He also said it has been extremely difficult fighting corruption under a democratic setting.
President Buhari further stated that with the information he received from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, he believed majority of the Boko Haram members are Nigerians.
According to him, his government has done a lot to fight the terrorists but the problem in the “North-East is very difficult”.
The President explained that he appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff above his superiors because of the General’s experience in fighting Boko Haram in the North-east.
The appointment of Gen. Yahaya had created controversy and speculations that there is going to be a mass retirement of some generals in the Nigerian Army. But the Defence Headquarters has refuted the reports.
President Buhari also noted that the choice of Yahaya was inviting because he has the support and understanding of the troops.
On the fight against corruption in the country, he emphasised that it had not been easy for him to fight corruption since he became a democratically elected President six years ago.
He, however, stressed that his administration had succeeded in easing out corrupt public officials without advertising it. Buhari recalled that much was achieved in the fight against corruption when he was military head of state in the early 80s – “when a lot of people were sent to prisons before I was also booted out”.
He expressed concerns that the local government system was almost non- existent in the country as governors have continued to starve them of funds saying; “in a situation where N300 million is allocated to local government and they are given N100 million is not fair”.
The Pesident advised Nigerians and politicians to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), the country’s leading political party.
When asked about the upcoming presidential election in 2023, President Buhari said:
“Anyone who aspires to be the next President of Nigeria should join the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.