Buhari speaks on his recent appointments, says he chose people who have been loyal to him

People who are loyal to you or people who can do the job? Just asking, what do I know? President Buhari yesterday broke his silence on the recent appointments he made which has been described as lopsided. In an interview with BBC Hausa which was translated by Daily Trust, President Buahri said he chose people that have been loyal and steadfast with him right from his days in APP, CPC and then APC.

"This is the nature of Nigerian politics. If they will do justice to me, as an elected Nigerian president, let them look at the Constitution a Nigerian president works with, there are people who will closely work with me that don’t need to be taken to the Senate. 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? 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?”he said

On the Chibok girls, Buhari said

"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. But efforts are being intensified and as people know, the three neighboring governments of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger are helping us since these suicide bombers are now going to their areas and detonating the bombs in mosques and other places"he said

On his yet to be released ministerial list, Buhari said those who have held government positions before and were involved in unwholesome practices knowingly or unknowingly will not be invited. He said those who have held such positions before or tried to maintain accountability will be considered for appointment

"There are people that deserve to hold the position because of their knowledge in either financial issues, or oil sector or even in governance. But you discover that in one way or the other, and whether they knew it or not, they were dragged to such unwholesome practices. Bringing such people will be tantamount to leaving your doors open when you have gone to rest in your apartment. Putting such people in either financial, petrol or works ministry would be dangerous because behind the scene, some people control a person. They would be dictating to them with a threat to award them contracts. This is the most frightening thing that Nigerians must understand. You need to get people who held similar post before or tried to maintain accountability"he said.