Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Bola Ahmed Tinubu accused of using teleprompter during interview with BBC as he talks about real estate investment. (Read More Here).
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 poll, Bola Tinubu, has said the West is not yet comfortable with the Buhari administration, a reason he said there are not enough military weapons to “completely” overcome Nigeria’s security challenges.
Mr Tinubu, who spoke to foreign broadcaster BBC after his appearance at the Chatham House London on Monday, said that the Buhari APC administration had “degraded but not completely eliminated” Boko Haram terrorism.
While Mr Tinubu submitted himself to BBC for an interview in Lonon, he has continued to dodge media scrutiny at home.
Before Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015, Mr Tinubu said, there were 17 local governments and four states where “foreign jihadists” had their flags, referring to Boko Haram. “That is no more,” he said.
For example, they were responsible for the July Kuje prison attack in Abuja and the Niger State government has publicly spoken of the terrorists’ presence in the North-central state.
In addition, the North-west region is facing unprecedented insecurity with thousands of people killed and kidnapped by terrorist groups, locally called bandits. Untamed by the APC’s Buhari administration, the bandits have caused massive forced displacements, while they extract criminal revenues from poor Nigerians in rural areas of the region.
Critics also blame Mr Buhari for mismanaging the IPOB secessionist agitation in the South-east, which has now become a sort of an armed insurgency.
In his defence of the Buhari administration, he said Western nations were not selling arms to Nigeria.
“Lethal weapons, ammunition, and technology, equipment that could have helped accelerate the decline of the (…) The West is yet to feel comfortable enough to sell us arms,” Mr Tinubu said.
Since under Mr Buhari’s predecessor Goodluck Jonathan, Washington has expressed concerns about human rights abuses in Nigeria’s conflict situation, informing their policy against arms sale to the West African nation.
Asked if he thought the Western arms policy toward Nigeria would change if he is elected president in 2023, Mr Tinubu said, “It could change, it might not change but we have to look at alternatives and that is mass recruitment of individuals in a volunteer army to really clean up …”
In an interview with the BBC aired on Tuesday, Tinubu said he “turned the value” of the real estate he inherited into the wealth he has.
The source of the politician’s wealth has been queried over the years following numerous allegations that have been levelled against him.
The former governor said since he stopped being in charge of Lagos in 2007, he has not taken an appointment or gotten a government contract.
“I was the most investigated, the most accused governor in opposition up to, you know, for eight years, up till 2007. And since I left the office I’m still there. I have not taken any appointment, no government contract.”
The former Lagos governor also denied claims that he gets money from the coffers of the Lagos government.
“Share what? Have they proven it? The World Bank, IMF have investigated the record in Lagos. What’s wrong with them? It’s envy,” he added.
Tinubu said he is qualified to be president because of his performance as governor.
“I’m different. I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have governed Lagos, I have built a modern state that could be a country on its own. I have led an administration that was so prudent,” he said after he was asked why Nigerians should vote him.
“From N600 million IGR to N5 billion a month, that is a record; nobody else can brag about that. I’ve treated and tamed the Atlantic Ocean surge that would have perished many people in Lagos. The infrastructural renewal of Lagos is excellent. I have continuity in Lagos.”
He also expressed optimism that he would win the election, and said his priorities will be “security and economic recovery to accelerated development”.
“Things are going very well. I’m very confident that this election will be free and fair. I’m the front runner and that is why I’m getting many arrows,” he added.
“You’ve got to know how to analyse and how to ask questions, not in the accusatory format. Are they enemies of wealth? If they are not enemies of wealth, investments do yield,” he said.
“I have an example of Warren Buffet, one of the richest men in America and in the world. He started from stock buying and brokerages.
“I inherited great real estate; I turned the values around. I’m not denying my wealth.
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