President Muhammadu Buhari says nobody can blackmail him on inexplicable wealth and illicit enrichment while in office, stressing that “I do not have one square inch outside Nigeria”.

Buhari said fighting corruption under the present system of government is difficult unlike the military system, adding that he ordered the arrest of some people as Head of State while he was locked up.

The President said this while speaking at a State banquet organised in his honour in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Monday night.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari restated his vow to serve God and Nigeria until his last day in office and beyond.

He, however, advised Nigerians to remain patriotic, saying: “As I said more than 30 years ago, we have no other country than Nigeria; we must all stay here and salvage it together.”

Noting that the most critical security challenge inherited by the administration nearly eight years ago was the potent and pervasive threat of terrorism, the President expressed delight that normalcy has returned to affected states in the North-East region of the country.

Buhari recounted that the threat was particularly pervasive across the North East geopolitical zone with Yobe State as one of the most hit by the terrorists.

President Buhari, however, stated that he has fulfilled the commitment made to Nigerians in his May 29, 2015, inaugural address to frontally and courageously tackle Boko Haram terrorists and stabilise the country.

“In the North-East, God has helped us to clear Boko Haram, the economy has picked up and some people are asking me about the achievements of my promise to fight corruption.

“Well, under this system fighting corruption is not easy. When I was in the military, as Head of State, I locked up some people because the Constitution says you must declare your assets, and people who couldn’t explain the differences in their assets, I locked them up.

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“In the end, I was also locked up. So, if you want to serve this country you must be prepared for the worst. But one thing that I am grateful to God for is that nobody can blackmail me. I do not have one-square inch outside Nigeria and I intend to stay in Nigeria when I retire from public office,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey to the presidency and re-election, Buhari said: Between 2003 and 2019, I visited all the local government areas in this country. In 2019 when I attempted re-election, I visited every state and the number of people that came out to see who this Buhari is and was is more than what anybody can pay or force.

“So, I thank God that Nigerians understood me and I made a promise that I will serve God and Nigerians.”

President Buhari further commended Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, for taking advantage of the return of peace and security in the state to execute people-oriented projects.

Describing the governor as “very competent and courageous”, the President said he was lucky to have him in the saddle as the political leader in the state, supporting the federal efforts to decimate Boko Haram terrorist group.

President Buhari thanked the governor and people of Yobe State, including Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, for their warm reception during his visit to the state.

In his remarks, Governor Buni expressed delight at the President’s inauguration of landmark projects in the state, including the Yobe International Cargo Airport, Damaturu ultra-modern market, Maternal and Child Health Complex at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, the 2600 Housing Estate in Potiskum, and the Damaturu Mega School at new Bra-Bra.

He, however, appealed to the President to approve the takeover of the Yobe State International Cargo Airport by the Federal Government and the refund of N38 billion expended by the state government on the project.

Buni also requested the takeover of the State University Teaching Hospital, including the Maternity and Child Health Complex.

On his part, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, thanked President Buhari for inaugurating the State Command Headquarters, Police Secondary School, and Tertiary Police Hospital during his visit.

The IGP assured the President and Nigerians that the Nigeria Police are fully prepared for the forthcoming 2023 general elections, saying the police would remain apolitical in compliance with Buhari’s directive.

The Star