Muhammadu Buhari was on Christiane Amanpour’s show last night to discuss the ongoing political situation, his record as a dictator and how he’ll address the key problems if he becomes president.
President Goodluck Jonathan had a media chat in Abuja last night too. He and Buhari separately carved out time to talk to the media while the election heat cooled a bit. The interviews were really timely.
Here’s a full transcript of Buhari’s own interview with Amanpour, and after that Nigerians react to his responses to the key questions in the interview.
Amanpour: General, welcome to the programme.
Can I ask you first your reaction to the delay in this election by six weeks and to what you just heard President Jonathan say that they will make inroads into much more security within the next six weeks?
Buhari: Well, my reaction is that of disappointment, because the presentation made by INEC was that they were ready to conduct the election on the date they fixed a year ago, and for them to be forced virtually by the military that they cannot guarantee the safety of their workers, they have to concede to the demand of the military [for an] additional six weeks
Amanpour: Okay General, let me ask you because you’re a former military general: You were ruling the country briefly. Why is it that the Nigerian military today cannot take on Boko Haram and have failed to combat that terrorist organisation?
Buhari: Well this has been made much more clear when the National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing after the soldiers were giving interviews to foreign media about being sent to the front without proper weapons. The National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing by getting the budgets approved by the National Assembly over the last three years and inviting the service chiefs to come and tell them [why the] weapons were not procured and sent to the soldiers — and competent leadership. And that hearing was scuttled.
So in short, it’s the misapplication or misappropriation of the resources provided by the government for weapons. That’s why the Nigerian military was unable to defeat Boko Haram.
Amanpour: General, you today just got a huge endorsement from a former ally of President Jonathan. That is the former president Obasanjo. How do you react to that, I mean what would that do for your campaign?
Buhari: Well it would certainly bring more supporters to us and more confidence again to us from those who were sitting on the fence, because General Obasanjo is highly respected and as far as Nigerians [issues are] concerned, there’s no serious issue that can be discussed without people seeking for his opinion and listening to it
Amanpour: Can I now ask you about yourself because headlines around the world are portraying this election as a choice between a failed president and a former dictator — and you’re the former dictator according to these headlines.
You know, people say — and they remember — that you expelled 700,00 migrants years ago thinking that would create jobs, that you’ve banned political meetings and free speech, that you’ve detained thousands of people, secret tribunals, executing people for crimes that were not capital offences. Have you changed or is this what the Nigerian people have to look forward to?
Buhari: Well all those things you mentioned, with a degree of accuracy of actually what happened, was then under a military administration, and when that military adminstration came under my leadership, we — the military — suspended the part of the constitution that we felt would be difficult for us to operate under those circumstances. So I think I’m being judged harshly as an individual that what happened during the military administration can be extended under a multiparty democracy system.
Amanpour: Okay so now you say you’re a democrat. What do you think you can do to combat Boko Haram and to combat the galloping corruption in your country?
Buhari: Well, Boko Haram, we know how it started. Certainly the Nigerian military that built our reputation internationally for effectiveness, it’s a great embarrassment to them and to the country that they haven’t been able to secure [Nigeria's] territory of an area of 14 local governments out of 774 local governments.
I believed this problem will not be too difficult for [our] APC government because we know the Nigerian military is competent. It’s a question of making sure the money voted for equipment and training [is] properly utilised.
Buhari: We have to, because there are serious citizens of this country that say unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. And that’s best illustrated by another hearing conducted by the National Assembly on pension fund, electricity and then the corruption in the petroleum industry from where the country derives over 90% in external revenue
The National Assembly conducted a hearing here in Abuja and in the six geopolitical zones of the country, then they took the recommendation to the executive. And it’s been collecting dust for the past 18 months.
Amanpour: Alright, General Muhammadu Buhari, opposition candidate in Nigeria. Thank you very much for joining us from Abuja tonight.
REACTIONS
On his record as a dictator
Nancy: I appreciate the sincerity in his response to the question about his dictatorial record. He admitted that, to a degree, those accusations are true. He didn’t try to sugarcoat or anything. I believe he said the right thing there, and I also feel people need to stop focusing on his past and look at who he is right now and what he can do as a leader
Habib: Well, he has just answered the way he is supposed to. Yes he was a dictator at the time and he had absolute power, but he tried to use it to cleanse the system and expunge the bad people. It’s going to be a different ball game now that we’re in a democracy, and we still expect the same tough stance on corruption and indiscipline.
On how he’ll fight Boko Haram
Ehiz: It wasn’t an impressive response. He was pretty inarticulate in this interview. His response to this question is based on the idea that army funds are being diverted, but even if that’s true it’s just a small part of a bigger problem. It didn’t show that Buhari has a clear enough understanding of the situation and how to fight the insurgency.
Habib: Perhaps he was speaking from a military perspective as a former general and he just referred to that single detail to make his point. It’s not the best response in the world, but the man’s correct about army funds being diverted and how it will revamp our army if we put a stop to that.
On how he’ll fight corruption
Ehiz: Buhari should have specifically explained how he’ll deal with corruption instead of referring incoherently to some parliamentary hearing somewhere. It’s not enough that people think you can stop corruption. You’ve got to explain to us how you’ll do it.
Nancy: Those are cynical about his position on corruption simply need to check the records. Everybody knows Buhari is an upright man who can be trusted to oversee a crackdown on corruption. That’s why we’re voting him.Following the rescheduling of the February 14 election, the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign organisation challenged President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to explain their alleged involvement in the postponement.
Here’s a full transcript of Buhari’s own interview with Amanpour, and after that Nigerians react to his responses to the key questions in the interview.
Amanpour: General, welcome to the programme.
Can I ask you first your reaction to the delay in this election by six weeks and to what you just heard President Jonathan say that they will make inroads into much more security within the next six weeks?
Buhari: Well, my reaction is that of disappointment, because the presentation made by INEC was that they were ready to conduct the election on the date they fixed a year ago, and for them to be forced virtually by the military that they cannot guarantee the safety of their workers, they have to concede to the demand of the military [for an] additional six weeks
Amanpour: Okay General, let me ask you because you’re a former military general: You were ruling the country briefly. Why is it that the Nigerian military today cannot take on Boko Haram and have failed to combat that terrorist organisation?
Buhari: Well this has been made much more clear when the National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing after the soldiers were giving interviews to foreign media about being sent to the front without proper weapons. The National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing by getting the budgets approved by the National Assembly over the last three years and inviting the service chiefs to come and tell them [why the] weapons were not procured and sent to the soldiers — and competent leadership. And that hearing was scuttled.
So in short, it’s the misapplication or misappropriation of the resources provided by the government for weapons. That’s why the Nigerian military was unable to defeat Boko Haram.
Amanpour: General, you today just got a huge endorsement from a former ally of President Jonathan. That is the former president Obasanjo. How do you react to that, I mean what would that do for your campaign?
Buhari: Well it would certainly bring more supporters to us and more confidence again to us from those who were sitting on the fence, because General Obasanjo is highly respected and as far as Nigerians [issues are] concerned, there’s no serious issue that can be discussed without people seeking for his opinion and listening to it
Amanpour: Can I now ask you about yourself because headlines around the world are portraying this election as a choice between a failed president and a former dictator — and you’re the former dictator according to these headlines.
You know, people say — and they remember — that you expelled 700,00 migrants years ago thinking that would create jobs, that you’ve banned political meetings and free speech, that you’ve detained thousands of people, secret tribunals, executing people for crimes that were not capital offences. Have you changed or is this what the Nigerian people have to look forward to?
Buhari: Well all those things you mentioned, with a degree of accuracy of actually what happened, was then under a military administration, and when that military adminstration came under my leadership, we — the military — suspended the part of the constitution that we felt would be difficult for us to operate under those circumstances. So I think I’m being judged harshly as an individual that what happened during the military administration can be extended under a multiparty democracy system.
Amanpour: Okay so now you say you’re a democrat. What do you think you can do to combat Boko Haram and to combat the galloping corruption in your country?
Buhari: Well, Boko Haram, we know how it started. Certainly the Nigerian military that built our reputation internationally for effectiveness, it’s a great embarrassment to them and to the country that they haven’t been able to secure [Nigeria's] territory of an area of 14 local governments out of 774 local governments.
I believed this problem will not be too difficult for [our] APC government because we know the Nigerian military is competent. It’s a question of making sure the money voted for equipment and training [is] properly utilised.
Buhari: We have to, because there are serious citizens of this country that say unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. And that’s best illustrated by another hearing conducted by the National Assembly on pension fund, electricity and then the corruption in the petroleum industry from where the country derives over 90% in external revenue
The National Assembly conducted a hearing here in Abuja and in the six geopolitical zones of the country, then they took the recommendation to the executive. And it’s been collecting dust for the past 18 months.
Amanpour: Alright, General Muhammadu Buhari, opposition candidate in Nigeria. Thank you very much for joining us from Abuja tonight.
REACTIONS
On his record as a dictator
Nancy: I appreciate the sincerity in his response to the question about his dictatorial record. He admitted that, to a degree, those accusations are true. He didn’t try to sugarcoat or anything. I believe he said the right thing there, and I also feel people need to stop focusing on his past and look at who he is right now and what he can do as a leader
Habib: Well, he has just answered the way he is supposed to. Yes he was a dictator at the time and he had absolute power, but he tried to use it to cleanse the system and expunge the bad people. It’s going to be a different ball game now that we’re in a democracy, and we still expect the same tough stance on corruption and indiscipline.
On how he’ll fight Boko Haram
Ehiz: It wasn’t an impressive response. He was pretty inarticulate in this interview. His response to this question is based on the idea that army funds are being diverted, but even if that’s true it’s just a small part of a bigger problem. It didn’t show that Buhari has a clear enough understanding of the situation and how to fight the insurgency.
Habib: Perhaps he was speaking from a military perspective as a former general and he just referred to that single detail to make his point. It’s not the best response in the world, but the man’s correct about army funds being diverted and how it will revamp our army if we put a stop to that.
On how he’ll fight corruption
Ehiz: Buhari should have specifically explained how he’ll deal with corruption instead of referring incoherently to some parliamentary hearing somewhere. It’s not enough that people think you can stop corruption. You’ve got to explain to us how you’ll do it.
Nancy: Those are cynical about his position on corruption simply need to check the records. Everybody knows Buhari is an upright man who can be trusted to oversee a crackdown on corruption. That’s why we’re voting him.Following the rescheduling of the February 14 election, the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign organisation challenged President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to explain their alleged involvement in the postponement.
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