finally........ WT: What is your relationship with former Nigerian leaders, such as General Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo and the rest? Buhari: Obasanjo, of course, I competed against him in 2003 and he is still a member of the PDP. They are my biggest political enemies. I don’t think Babangida is an active member of the party like Obasanjo. We’re pressing our rights as Nigerians. Once we are out of uniform, we can pick a party of our choice. But whether in or out of uniform, everyone has the right to vote in his or her constituency. I don’t see anything between me and my former colleagues, senior or junior. WT: People say you were dictatorial when you were Head of State, but the tune seems different today, that then it was Idiagbon who was behind that approach. What was the true picture of things then? Buhari: Idiagbon, may his soul rest in perfect peace, was very hard-working and loyal. That was his fault, being loyal. He’ll take instructions from me and implement to the letter. And because he refused to smile when he was in office, and was not sparing anybody, they put most of the blame on him. Now that he’s not there and I’m alive, they are shifting the blame to me. He was a committed Nigerian. Idiagbon had been militarily following my footsteps. He was commander of 31 Infantry Brigade, now Mechanized Brigade, which I established after the war. When I left, he became the commander there. When I moved to the North-East, he moved to become Governor of Borno State. Historically, he has been following me in my profession. I knew him a long time ago. It’s one of the things now being abused by mischief-makers about the whole Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian ticket thing. Idiagbon lived and died a Muslim. I’m still a Muslim. Nobody had ever talked about religion when we were around. Gowon was in charge of this country for nine years, thirty months of which was a civil war. All his commanders, Army, Navy, Air Force and Supreme Headquarters were Christians and nobody talked. When Abiola became a politician, he contested and picked his running mate Kingibe, a Muslim from Borno State. If there was justice, they won that election. But Nigerians now have certainly allowed their attention to be diverted from productivity to religious arguments and so on. WT: What will you say to critics who translated your relationship with Idiagbon to say you’re weak? Buhari: Give me the chance next year and see whether I’m weak or not. WT: You just complained about how the society has been reduced to a religious and ethnic affair. What would you do if you become president come 2015? Buhari: The way I’ll do it is by performance. It’s what is physically on the ground that matters, not what faith you practice. The constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria says you can belong to any religion or even choose not to. It’s your business. But the fundamental issue of Nigeria is security. WT: (Cuts in) But that didn’t come to play in the process of choosing your running mate, Osinbajo as your running mate... Buhari: You can’t absolutely ignore perception. At the same time, you’ll not allow perception to tamper with the reality on ground or social justice. WT: A former associate of yours, Buba Galadima, said he left you because you reneged on your promise not to contest again. But here we are... Buhari: Since I’ve gone back on what I said, the only thing for him and his followers is not to vote for me next year. WT: If he comes back, would you accept him? Buhari: He’s welcome. WT: You left the army in 1985. What did you delve into after being released from house arrest? Buhari: I went home and looked after my cattle. WT: There are alarming statistics regarding youth unemployment in Nigeria. If elected, what exactly would be your solution? Buhari: The problem is that every unemployed youth is frightened. And a number of people think we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder, which is true. But what can be done rapidly to assuage the situation. I think agriculture and solid minerals would quickly move them away from unemployment. Other things have to take time, because you need to rehabilitate the infrastructure, especially education. You don’t get qualified teachers overnight. We’ve to cultivate it by retraining them and make teaching attractive so that teachers would agree to go to the institutions. Then renovate the institutions. It is disheartening to see children in some local governments sitting on the ground under a tree with a makeshift blackboard. I think that is indefensible. There must be enough resources to put educational infrastructures on ground. That’s very important, as is healthcare. WT: Should Nigerians expect to see the Buhari brand of justice when you come into power? Buhari: I think the practical way of approaching corruption in this country – and I make reference to NEPA, the petroleum industry and the military – is to draw a line. Whatever is the cause, we’ll not interfere with the courts, except that we’ll stay on their backs. Let them treat corruption cases as best as they can. From the day we come in, for those who think the treasury is for their pockets, there will be legal implications. If you say you will start to investigate every corruption incident in Nigeria, it would not be possible. Most of the institutions have been compromised. The person you depend on to go and investigate may be corrupt also. WT: What is your typical day like? Buhari: I use between 5:00am to 5:30am to pray, after which I listen to Voice of America, then the BBC up to 7:00am. Then I enjoy the benefit of retirement and put in an hour or so of sleep, and then I come out and have breakfast. After that, it’s the office and there are usually those who have an appointment and those who don’t, waiting for me. That’s what takes most of my time. Now that I’ve got a ticket, we have to be busy building the structure on the ground because time is against us. WT: What sport do you play? Buhari: I used to play squash and tennis. Now I walk. WT: What is your favourite food? Buhari: Tuwon Alkama. WT: The young are constantly online these days. Will your presidency be social media-friendly? Buhari: Yes. I want the government to get to the people. I want an honest assessment of our performance to be conveyed to the public. WT: At 72, you’re still strong. What’s the secret? Buhari: I think it’s the military training. I played a lot of squash and table tennis, too. Now I try to walk three times a week at least. WT: There’s an impression in some quarters that you’re misunderstood. What can you say about that? Buhari: I don’t think I’m misunderstood by most Nigerians. I’m misunderstood deliberately by paid agents of the PDP. That’s all I can say. WT: What would you say is your philosophy? Buhari: Social justice. From leadership of your family to whatever you become, make sure there is justice. Daily Trust.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:43:46 +0000
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