Says he’s not Baba Go Slow but Nigerian system is
President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged his wife, Aisha, to provide evidence that a cabal has hijacked his government.
The president threw down the gauntlet in an interview with Voice of America, Hausa Service, when he was asked to shed some light on the several allegations by his wife and others that he was not in control of the government.
“That’s her business. I am a true democrat by allowing everybody to have an opinion,” he said.
It would be recalled that the president’s wife had alleged recently at the launch of ‘Project 4+4 for Buhari and Osinbajo 2019’ in Abuja blamed the lackluster performance of Buhari’s administration on two powerful persons in the administration.
She said at the event that husband would have achieved a lot more than it has in if not “for two people in government who will never allow things to move fast.”
She that Buhari’s achievements in the last three and a half years would have been accomplished in one year if the two people in the administration had not constituted themselves as hindrance for the speedy progress of governance.
“I am disappointed in men who rather than fight these two men will go to them in the night begging for favour,” she said.
Similarly in 2016, she alleged that the administration had been hijacked by a cabal in the presidency and threatened not to support her husband should he seek a re-election in 2019.
Mrs. Buhari had claimed that her husband was surrounded by people he does not know and suggested that the government might have been hijacked from him, a sentiment shared by the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“The president does not know 45 out of 50 of the people he appointed and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years. Some people are sitting down in their homes folding their arms only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial position,” she alleged.
However, Buhari said in the interview that he is in charge of the state of affairs in the country.
“I challenge those alleging to show single evidence. What they are saying is different from what is happening. They should come out and say those things they feel were stage managed by the cabal. What the cabal forces me to do. They should mention just one thing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the president had on Tuesday reacted to those calling him Baba Go Slow saying despite the appellation “I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them.”
Buhari who stated this in Abuja during a visit of the Federal Capital Territory community on a Christmas day to the Presidential Villa was apparently reacting to those accusing his administration of being too slow in tackling the nation’s challenges, including the fight against corruption.
Buhari blamed the slow pace on the Nigerian system which he equally described as “slow.”
“It’s not Baba (Buhari) that is slow but it is the system. So, I am going by this system and I hope we will make it.
“Now when I have to go by this system (democracy), where people have to be arrested and then prosecuted, taken to court and then with evidence, we will collect back what they had taken illegally.
“For doing that, people are calling me Baba Go Slow. I am going slowly, but whatever the case, I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them.
“Fighting corruption. Yes, we are slow because the system is slow. It is not Baba that is slow, but it is the system. So I am going by this system and I hope we will make it,” he said.
The president also announced the resumption of aggressive campaign for the 2019 presidential election, saying the campaign would start with visits to each of the six geo-political zones of the country.
He revealed that the three cardinal programmes which he campaigned in 2015 are still very relevant today, adding that he will continue to focus on the fight against corruption, tackling insecurity and improving the economy.
“We are watching the Independent National Electoral Commission very seriously and we are going out very soon; we will go from geo-political zone to geo-political zone, to remind the people of our promises in 2015.
“These three fundamental things include security, because you have to secure the country before you can govern it and talking about what we have done regarding securing the country, the people of the North-east know better.
“The three fundamental things we campaigned with are still very relevant.
“On improving the economy, which we are still going to explore, we have done well in agriculture, and those who embraced farming are not regretting it and we have also addressed unemployment and we are very lucky, through that we are now attaining food security.
“The third thing with which we will campaign is the issue of corruption.
“I told you what I did when I was in uniform but now when I have to go by this system (democracy,) where people have to be arrested and then prosecuted, taken to court and then with evidence, we will collect back what they had taken illegally and for doing that, people are calling me Baba go slow.
“I am going slowly but whatever the case, I will not stop pointing fingers at those who have abused trust by taking money that does not belong to them.
“I will keep on trying to do my best for this country and get back what belongs to the country,” he said.
