TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says he is willing to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of abducted Chibok girls, provided there are no doubts over the authenticity of those claiming to speak for the insurgents. 

He also assured Nigerians and the international community that no corrupt politician, either in his All Progressives Congress (APC) or in the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP), will escape justice.

Buhari gave the assurance on Tuesday evening in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

Speaking on his trip to the United States, he said Barack Obama and G7 leaders had “promised to do what they can to help Nigeria” in terms of requirements in terms of training, equipping and intelligence gathering for Nigeria to be able to fight Boko Haram.

“My people firstly want the country to be stabilised so that normal life will be restored,” he said.

“In the southern part of the country, the militants are sabotaging oil installations and kidnapping people and demanding ransoms and in the north-east of the country, Boko Haram is still active. This is the situation of things in Nigeria now and it’s a realistic way of looking at things. Nothing will work until the country is secured.”

Asked to comment on the capability of the military to tackle insurgency amid allegations of human rights abuse against it, Buhari said: “I have just mentioned that under the Lake-Chad basic commission, we have agreed to form a multi-national taskforce, so whatever happens before that decision was taken, we have to allow further investigation to verify the question of human rights abuse and with that I am sure you must have known the decision taken by this government in relocating the military command centre to the epicentre of the battle.”

He said his government would exercise caution in how its goes about rescuing the Chibok girls, given the various groups claiming leadership of Boko Haram.

“We have to be very careful about the credibility of various groups coming forward and claiming leadership of Boko Haram, that they can deliver.

“We have to be very careful indeed and this is why we are taking our time but we want to bring them [Chibok Girls] back safely to their homes and their school.”

On whether his government would, in principle, negotiate with Boko Haram if he confirms the credibility of the group, the president responded: “I cannot be against it. Our main objective as a government is to secure those girls safe and sound and also rehabilitate them back to normal life. So if we are convinced that the leadership of Boko Haram that presents itself can deliver those girls, we will quickly negotiate what they want.”

He also said it is too early for his performance in office to be judged: “I can be held to my promises for the next three years and three-quarter year I have on me. For now, I think it’s too early for anybody to pass judgment on my campaign promises.”

When asked if he will crack down on members of his party if he finds out that they are corrupt, he said: “I just have to. There isn’t going to be any party member or any personality that will escape justice.”

Buhari was also asked for his opinion on Obama’s disinterest in visiting Nigeria since becoming president in 2009.

“I wouldn’t say I am disappointed but how I wish that he will change his mind and come to Nigeria. Well, I told him that I will send invitation,” he said.