Speaking at a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen.
Abdulsalami Abubakar in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari declared that his
administration was irrevocably committed to doing all within its powers to break the
vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria.
"Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress," the President
said, adding that his administration was diligently getting facts and figures pertaining
to the nation's stolen funds, before proceeding to the prosecution of identified culprits.
President Buhari told General Abdulsalami and members of his committee that the
Federal Government, under his leadership, will not only ask for the return of stolen
funds that have been stashed in foreign banks, but will also ensure that those who stole
the funds are put on trial in Nigeria.
The President also said that as part of its actions to address the national problems it
inherited, his administration was reorganising Nigeria's revenue generating institutions.
The President explained that a single treasury account had been established for all
Federal revenue to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the
collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.
"We have really degenerated as a country. Our national institutions, including the military,
which did wonderfully on foreign missions in the past, have been compromised. But we
are doing something about it. The military is now retraining and morale has been
resuscitated.
"As Petroleum Minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel
abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council asking for estacode.
Now, everybody does what he wants.
"That is why security-wise and economically, we're in trouble," President Buhari told his
guests, adding that those who have stolen the national wealth "will be in court in a
matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them."
Gen. Abubakar and members of his committee urged the Federal Government to be
guided by the rule of law in its fight against corruption.
Members of the National Peace Committee who accompanied Gen Abubakar on the
visit were Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, the
Sultan of Sokoto, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the
Anglican Church of Nigeria.
Others were Justice Rose Ukeje (rtd), Prof Ameze Guobadia, Vanguard Newspaper
Publisher, Sam Amuka, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Senator Ben Obi, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, and Dr
Arthur-Martin Aginam.
The National Peace Committee, formed before the 2015 general elections, was
granted permission by the President to transform to a National Peace Council.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 11, 2015
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