By John Owen Nwachukwu Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Thursday, flayed President Buhari over his donation ...
By John Owen Nwachukwu
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Thursday,
flayed President Buhari over his donation of 10 SUVs worth N1.14bn to the
Republic of Niger.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a
statement, said the nepotistic gesture to Niger Republic shows where Buhari’s
original allegiance and patriotism lie as evident in his many constructions
linking Nigeria to the desert country.
The group said the action like many others is antithetical
to the oaths of office sworn to by President Muhammadu Buhari because he has
allowed his personal interest to undermine National interest.
Niger Republic is bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad
to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest,
Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.
Recall that the Minister of Finance, Budget and National
Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Wednesday, argued that Buhari has a responsibility
to approve N1.14bn to purchase 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles for the
Nigerien government “in the best interests of the country”.
A retired army colonel, Tony Nyiam, who worked with Buhari
whilst in Army had also publicly revealed he is from the Niger Republic.
Whilst justifying the construction of the $1.96 billion
Kano-Maradi railway project which many condemned last year, Buhari had said the
Fulanis in Niger Republic are his brothers.
Also, in June 2021, during an interview, Buhari revealed, “I
have first cousins in Niger. There are Kanuris, there are Hausas, there are
Fulanis in the Niger Republic.”
Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The fresh donation of SUV
vehicles to the Niger Republic where President Buhari has cousins is evidence
of where his allegiance, patriotism and loyalty lie.
“Any wonder then that terrorists from Niger Republic come
into Nigeria in droves to kill, maim, destroy and cart away billions of cash as
ransom back to develop Niger Republic and the President does next to nothing.
“Buhari must clear his patriotism amidst allegations of
helping to build Niger Republic whilst accusations of Niger’s involvement in
terrorism in North West heightens.
“It is condemnable that whilst Nigerians grapple with so
many challenges including poverty, unemployment, terrorism, amongst others that
need financial intervention, President Buhari finds his priority in Niger
Republic, even at a time when the Academic Staff Union of Universities has been
on strike for over six months with students of tertiary institutions at home.
“And to think that ASUU’s demand is N1.1trn and Buhari
splurged what would have been part of the money on Niger Republic.
“The romance between Niger Republic and Nigeria is more
evident as President Mohammed Bazoum honoured the Zamfara State Governor, Bello
Matawall, with a national award on security in Niger Republic. What an irony!
“According to the United States’ Department of State, ‘Niger
is the only country in the world with ISIS-affiliate presence on three
borders.’”
The report states thus: “Niger Republic’s efforts to fight
terrorism are constrained by budget shortfalls and continuing instability in
Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, and the Lake Chad Basin. Terrorist groups
active in Niger included ISIS in the Greater Sahara, Boko Haram, ISIS-WA, and
JNIM.”
HURIWA warned that the government of President Buhari must
be compelled to stop actions that are pushing Nigeria towards destabilisation
of constitutional democracy by anarchists who may cash in on his doubtful
patriotism to the Nigerian fatherland to cause a regime change which is
absolutely non-permissible.
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