AMERICA IS CONFIDENT OF BUHARI’S INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE-Obama

Says Nigerian is the most Strategic nation in Africa, Am following Obama’s footstep in forming my cabinet by September -Buhari. At the United States Presidential Villa, the White House,the world most respected leader and the President of the United States of America[USA],Mr.Barrack Obama has reaffirmed the confidence American government repose on the competence and integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari, Executive President of Nigeria, African most populous nation and he described the country is the most strategic African nation.
The report of the first day of the Working Tour of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to the United States of America [USA] was captured all the reports from our oversea correspondents who have been monitoring the visit here by GOKE OLUWOLE, the Executive Editor/Team Leader of the www.thepodiumeditor.com as he gives a very deep insight into the story.


Pres.Obama told the array of world-class Journalists who swam around the White House while addressing a Joint World Press briefing with the visiting Pres.Buhari inside the White House on Monday, that he can vouch for the competence, capability and integrity of the new Nigerian President.

He said that American government are aware of the unquestionable and unblemished past records of Pres.Buhari and because of these confidence reposed on the character of his person that was the real reason why American throw their weight behind the transition programme by giving all the needed support to the electoral process that midwifed the new government to office.

“We have been watching with very keen interest on his activities so far in the office and we can say he has started very well on a good footing,and our country will do everything to assist the Buhari government because Nigeria is a very strategic nation in Africa”

He promised that he will do everything that is very possible to help Buhari government succeed in fighting to fight corruption, terrorism and even improved the economy of the country within the next possible time”
Obama noted that Washington will continue to provide counterterrorism aid to help Nigerian authorities fight the terror group as he said that the United States strongly condemns all the past and recent attacks in northeastern Nigeria inflicted by Boko Haram,” .

“We will continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to bring those responsible for these attacks, as well as previous attacks, to justice,we will continue to work closely with the Nigerian government and our international partners to combat Boko Haram and assist its many victims”

Buhari on his part assured Obama that he will not disappoint the people of Nigerian, the whole world at large and that he will do everything humanly possible to fight corruption, terrorism and even improved the economy.

He also said that because of the precarious state of the nation’s economy that he will take him more time till the end of September before appointing his ministers and that the anti-corruption war will become tougher.

Buhari told Obama that he was very happy as the two head of states where meeting for the first time after the peaceful transfer of power in a contested election in our nation’s history.
The Nigerian President discussed his intimate plans for critical reforms why the formation of his administration is taking time and, crucially, why it must as he has refused to listen to the oppositions who are crying that these changes are taking too long.
“Even though only six weeks have passed since my inauguration.I hear such calls, but this task cannot and should not be rushed. Buhari added.

Buhari opened up to Obama that the formation and constitution of his cabinet will still tarry as he wish to fully form his cabinet and appoints his ministers by September because he wish to follow Obama’s footstep as Obama himself did not have his full Cabinet in place for several months after first taking office as US President.

“The United States then did not cease to function in the interim and in Nigeria’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put new rules of conduct and good governance in place.

He stress the importance of ensuring that the process is carried out correctly, just as it has been crucial to first install the correct leadership of the military and security services before he will fully take the fight to Boko Haram.

Buhari hammered that it is the lack of a governance framework that has allowed many of those in charge, devoid of any real checks and balances, to plunder and that is the main fact he is now seeking Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen in the past decade.

These looted Nigerian wealth,Buhari said is scattered in different foreign bank accounts on behalf of former, corrupt officials which he pointed out as a clear testament to how badly Nigeria has been run in the past and this way of conducting the nation’s affairs cannot continue.

So the path we must take is simple, even if it is not easy: First, instill rules and good governance; second, install officials who are experienced and capable of managing state agencies and ministries; and third, seek to recover funds stolen under previous regimes so that this money can be invested in Nigeria for the benefit of all of our citizens.

We seek the support and partnership of the United States in these tasks. The importance of the fight against terrorism and corruption in Nigeria, Africa’s most powerful economy and largest populace, cannot be underestimated.
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