President Muhammadu Buhari says corrupt politicians who looted Nigeria’s treasury are the ones sponsoring Niger Delta militants to bomb oil facilities.
He added that the development was unfortunate due to the fact that the price of crude oil had fallen drastically.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, quoted Buhari as saying this while speaking with Nigerian professionals in the United States.
Buhari said, “Those who stole Nigeria dry are not happy. They recruited the militants against us in the Niger Delta, and began to sabotage oil infrastructure.
“We lose millions of barrels per day, at a time when every dollar we can earn, counts. It is a disgrace that a minimum of 27 states, out of 36 that we have in Nigeria, can’t pay salaries.”
The President said barely a year after taking office; he was able to decimate Boko Haram despite the fact that he inherited a demoralised military.
He said the terrorist organisation could not lay claim to a single local government again in the country.
Buhari added, “Talking of our military, they earned respect serving in places like Burma, Zaire, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and then, suddenly, that same military could no longer secure 14 out of 774 local governments in the country. Insurgents had seized them, calling them some sort of caliphate, and planting their flags there; till we came, and scattered them.
“We raised the morale of our military, changed the leadership, re-equipped and retrained them; the United States of America, Britain, and some other countries helped us, and today, the pride of our military is restored.”
The President said the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party was characterised by looting and unfinished projects.
He, however, said he would not complain about the state of affairs as the recession had provided the country with an opportunity to be great again, urging Nigerians in the US to return home and develop the country.
