Buhari's Interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour

President Muhammadu Buhari in an Exclusive interview with CNN's Chief International correspondent Christiane Amanpour, gave little insight into his meeting with President Obama at he Whitehouse. In the interview President Buhari said 12 weeks was too early to judge him on his campaign promises, he however reassured Nigerians and the world of his intention to tackle corruption, and the security challenges facing the country, stating that security is paramount in the interest of Nigeria in Her current situation.


The Interview;






Christiane Amanpour: Mr President you have asked the United States to help you in the fight against Boko Haram. What exactly did you ask in this regard and what answers did President Obama give you?

President Muhammadu Buhari: The United States leading the G7 promised to do what they can to help Nigeria. So we have brought our requirements in terms of training, equipping and intelligence-gathering for Nigeria to be able to fight Boko Haram.

Christiane Amanpour: You mention the economy and the fall in oil prices over the last many months. How are you going to deal with that? Because that is really what your people want.
President Muhammadu Buhari: My people, firstly I believe, they want the security in the country to be stabilized so that normal life, both in the southern part of the country where militants are still sabotaging oil installations and kidnapping people and demanding ransom and then in the north east of the country where Boko Haram is still active. This is a main preoccupation of Nigerians now and is a realistic way of looking at things. Nothing will work until the country is secured.


Christiane Amanpour: But despite your vows to tackle Boko Haram, there are reports in your own country that there have been at least 400 deaths by that group since you became president. Added to that, Amnesty International reports that your military has totally lost the credibility and trust of the people because of the systematic human rights abuses, the killing of some 8000 people. How do you expect your military to be able to go against Boko Haram, to get the trust of the people instead of being a platform for Boko Haram’s grievances?

President Muhammadu Buhari: Well I have just mentioned that under Lake Chad Basin Commission, we have agreed to form a multinational joint task force, so whatever happened before that decision was taken, we have to allow further investigations to verify the question of human rights abuse. And with that I am sure you must have known the decision taken by this government - the federal government of Nigeria - in changing the military command.
Christiane Amanpour: What about the famous Chibok girls, the 200 or so, abducted so long ago; yet again there has been a suggestion that the Boko Haram captors may seek to trade them for their incarcerated inmates who they want to get out, is your government willing to trade those girls in that regard?

President Muhammadu Buhari: We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up and claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed and we are taking our time because we want to bring them safe back to their parents and to their schools.

Christiane Amanpour: So are you in principle against, or will you consider, negotiating with Boko Haram if you can verify the credibility of those who approach you?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I cannot be against it. I told you our main objective as a government is to secure those girls safe and sound back to their schools and rehabilitate them to go back to normal life. So if we are convinced that the leadership that presented itself can deliver those girls safe and sound, we would be prepared to negotiate what they want.


Christiane Amanpour: You came to power on a platform that you will do better than the previous president in all regards; Security, Corruption, Economy et cetera. But there have been hundreds of people killed since you become president. How can you do any better?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I think I can be held to my promises for the next three and three-quarter years ahead of me. And I think 12 weeks or so are too early for any person to pass judgment on my campaign promises.

Christiane Amanpour: What about your campaign promises to root out corruption, if they turn out that some of the guilty ones were members of your own party or your own associates; Will you crack down on them too?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I just have to, there isn’t going to be any party member or any personality that can escape justice.
Christiane Amanpour: Are you disappointed that President Obama yet again is not coming to Nigeria. The biggest and most economically powerful country in Africa?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, but how I wished he will change his mind and go to Nigeria.


Christiane Amanpour: Did you ask him, did he say he would?
President Muhammadu Buhari: Well I asked him and that I will send a formal invitation.

Christiane Amanpour: Let me ask you about a previous African leader, the former dictator of Chad, Hissene Habre who is being tried – or at least they are trying to try him – in Senegal; do you support that process of trying an accused African leader in Africa, rather than at the International Criminal Court?
President Muhammadu Buhari: Justice is justice, whether it is done in Africa or elsewhere in the world. The important thing is let justice be done. Whatever evidence the prosecution has in Senegal, I think they should proceed to make it available to the world and prosecute him according to international law and human rights.
Christiane Amanpour: So you support that process?
President Muhammadu Buhari: I support any process that is based on justice.

Christiane Amanpour: President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, thank you for joining me from Washington.
President Muhammadu Buhari: Thank you very much.

#cnn #cnninsideafrica #BuhariAmanpour #ChristianeAmanpoure #Nigeria #BlackBoyThinking #ChibokGirls #BringBackOurGirls #Buhari

CNN said, I say(Buhari meets with Obama )

With respect to my previous post about the Nigerian president’s visit to the United States and his meeting with Barack Obama, an article on CNN Politics last night caught my attention and I am going to share some of the twists with you here on my blog. 

The article Titled ‘Obama looks to new Nigerian partner in Boko Haram fight’, starts thus;

“Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama will welcome Nigeria's new president to the White House Monday in an effort to bolster the fight against Boko Haram and begin a new chapter with Africa's most populous country.The United States is eager to boost its ties with Nigeria now that the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, who was often a source of frustration for Washington, has left office….”

I’ll pause here to review some details;

"…in an effort to bolster the fight against Boko Haram and begin a new chapter with Africa's most populous country."

It doesn’t come as a surprise to me, the new “chapter” which will involve a direct involvement  in Nigeria’s military and security affairs..."Do I smell the military base i talked about?" If so, could it benefit us and guarantee Nigerian citizens safety? Maybe I’ll ask Iraq, Afghanistan and other's in the list.

“…Goodluck Jonathan, who was often a source of frustration for Washington…”

Of cause this line was also tweeted by @APCNigeria in their official handle, "as expected". I ask, What are the oyibo insinuating? I was not a big fan of the GEJ led administration which is infamous for his characteristic indolence, but if there is anything I cannot forget about the former president, it is this, he refused to bow down to America, thus America denied him support. 
First and evidently, in Obama’s two visits to Africa, ‘Africa’s Most Populous country’ and no.1 economy was omitted. 
Secondly when Goodluck Ebele Jonathan approached the United States for Arms trade, he was turned down by not only the US, but also it's allies. This prompted Goodluck and his administration to secretly opt for illegal arms deals abroad. A move which the western allies tried to sabotage. This deals yielded an early and significant success in pushing the insurgents back and halting their attacks, prior to the ploy by western allies that intercepted further deals. 
The third reason why America considered GEJ’s administration frustrating is simple. He fraternized with one of America's political opponents Russia. GEJ signed a multi billion dollar Nuclear power plant deal with Rosatom Corporation, a Russian government run company nuclear company, in his bid to conquer electricity challenges in the country.

continuing;

"Buhari, a devout Muslim in a country where a majority of residents are Muslim, said during his election that he'd fight aggressively against radical Islam and promised to ramp up the fight against Boko Haram…”

The reporter isn’t Mr Obama, but if he was, I’ll say he is trying to paint Nigeria as an Islamic nation, so he can easily convince the Americans that he is only trying to save a group of Muslims from themselves if he eventually invades Nigeria; typical American technique in her Global Policing ideology. Since the writer isn’t Obama I can’t blame him for this blunder. What I can blame him for however is, not categorizing Nigeria as a country with predominantly Muslim North and Christian south as is generally referred to world through.

"President Obama looks forward to discussing with President Buhari our many ‘shared priorities’ including US.-Nigeria cooperation to advance a holistic, regional approach to combating Boko Haram," the White House said in a statement.

‘Shared Priority’, office romance? ok o. the lines above simply brings back my thoughts that US might want to employ the 'divide and rule' strategy to control Nigeria, to control the ‘Region’. No? Now check out the statement below;

Activists are hoping that the United States can assist Nigeria in halting Boko Haram's growth, especially by focusing on strengthening the country's military.

hmmm....

According to Omolola Adele-Oso, executive director and co-founder of Act For Accountability, a D.C.-based African government watchdog organization,

"The largest help the U.S. could give comes with intelligence -- helping Nigeria develop and monitor and track our security issues, and develop a better understanding of what it means to control our border,"

America understands propaganda more than anyone, so I need-not say more. All I see is help, help, help, help the Nigerian military.

One lovely part that appeals to my little brain in this article is this next one:

"While Nigeria would be wise to strengthen its relationship with the United States, ultimately the solutions to the country's problems -- including divisions -- will have to be solved internally, said Tukufu Zuberi, a professor at the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania."The solution to that can't come from Obama. It has to be a Nigerian solution," he said. "There's not much France can do or the U.S. can do in order to provide a national consciousness and unity in Nigeria." 

I wouldn’t agree more. Why does the US need to nose into affairs we can tackle within ourselves? Poor Africans. Do they think we can’t solve our own problems? Well we can’t blame them for thinking so, can I? Although organization and coordination are not a black man’s thing, i'm sorry. I still believe the best way to solve family problems is, taking them back home.

Having recently won Nigeria's first credible elections, Buhari enjoys the most respected status internationally of any of his predecessors.

An election conducted by an administration perceived to be a source of frustrations to the man at the Whitehouse. Ironic

The United States, for now, has praised the democratic moment in Nigeria and both Jonathan and Buhari for a peaceful transition of power.The United States Itself helped to some extent in this process. The U.S., the United Kingdom and others in the international community warned those considering disrupting the elections that there would be serious consequences.

This is clearly laughable. I don’t think the United State's input would have stopped GEJ from playing 'Laurent Gbagbo'. This is Africa.

         That is the much I will like to take from this article. Today is Monday, lets watch the news unfold, and hope our honorable President keeps our best interests as a Nation at heart always.

Read the original article on: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/20/politics/nigerian-president-buhari-obama-visit/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_NewsAndBuzz_pool&iref=obnetwork

What will Obama Serve Mr President

I just woke up with these thoughts in my head. 

Yesterday our beloved President Gen.(rtd) Muhammadu Buhari, his son Yusuf, Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshimole, CBN’s Emefiele and 29 other members of his entourage jet out for the much anticipated trip to the United States of America to visit the Global Watchdog and President of the Free country, United States President Barak Obama, where he will first be received and hosted at the historic Blair House in Pennsylvania by former US secretary of state Madeline Albright, before making it for breakfast at the white house with VP Joe Biden and then the meeting with Obama himself. The first time in history a visiting Nigerian Leader will be honored in the US. Nigerians are excited and are anxious of the different good this promises Nigeria in this dispensation. Unfortunately different drums sound in my little black head.

The American Government refused to help the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led administration in the fight against insurgency. For a country championing affairs in the front of the global war on terror, it was worrisome to me. When the US finally announced support for Nigeria against in its fight against Boko Haram, the story of the ‘D Day’ during the Second World War 2 came to my head, “the Calvary is coming!!!”

What happened next?  America started making flimsy excuses refusing to work with the supposedly “infiltrated” Nigerian military. After ties and alliance with the Chadian and Cameroonian military, the US sneaked out of the battle field with intel, No Drones fire, No tanks, No shells, No choppers, No Booths on ground, no Intel shared, no military base set up.

In a yet to be understood move the Obama led administration took sides with the opposition and saw to its victory in the last election, a candidate they clearly condemned after 2011 election.

President Muhammadu Buhari And Barack Obama (Photo credit Post-Nigeria.com)

President Obama’s support for President Buhari and his political party APC in their Campaign against the administration led by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is stale gist for the political enthusiast. The helping hands extended towards our honorable President by Obama and other western Governments in recent times reiterates that fact. Three days ago, South Africa released the private jet and controversial 15million dollars involved in the illegal arms deal to Nigeria by the previous administration. All appears fine and rosy now.

Baba is there now, #BabaNowThatYouAreThere, what price do we have to pay the United States of America for the services rendered so far. It is common knowledge that America’s philosophy on foreign policy secures the American interest paramount, and the US is not known to sow seeds on infertile soil. Expecting a pat in the shoulder from president Obama when you board the presidential jet back home after your meeting today is a no-brainer, Baba think.

On Monday, the Nigerian Pilot quoted the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield as saying,

 “As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria, as well as other governments which have provided legislation that discriminates against the LGBT community…This is very much a work in progress, but I think you will agree with me that the law in Nigeria really went far in discriminating against this community, but also people who associate with them.

“So we will continue to press the government, to press the legislature to change these laws and provide human rights for all Nigerian people, regardless of their sexual orientation.”

To wrap it up, she said “…..so we are prepared to push this as a policy, not just in Africa but across the world.”

Spokesperson to President Muhammad Buhari, Femi Adesina (also famous for his  loose-tongue personality on twitter Nigeria), is alleged to have further escalated the fear in many Nigerians, that the Government has plans to repeal the Same-sex Marriage Prohibition Act passed into law by the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration. 

In a press statement released on Wednesday, the Presidential spokesperson stated emphatically that Buhari’s talks with Obama would only focus on security, trade and economic ties.

My Question is, what will Obama be pulling out of the hat this time?

1.  Setting Up a permanent military base in Nigeria to fight Boko Haram and subsequently police Africa from the giant Nigeria, in exchange for oil?
2. Enforcing Gay laws in Nigeria in exchange for Security Aids.
3. Push economic, security, and trade ties to keep Nigeria Dependent on the US, rather than on self.
4. Keep Nigeria fighting and at the mercy foreign aid and arms (Divide and rule)

#BlackBoythink

by Ubah Ikechukwu Anthony