President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, said that only two Nigerians were found honourable while putting on trial public office holders during his military rule.
The president spoke during a town-hall meeting with Nigerians in Dubai, when he made the disclosure.
He recalled how he sent President Shehu Shagari and other top government officials to prison over corruption, but maintained that Bilyaminu Usman, a junior minister at the time, from Jigawa State, and Adamu Chiroma, a minister of finance and Governor of Central Bank were the two Nigerians found honourable by the panels that investigated politicians.
President Buhari was responding to a question on what he was doing to “bring treasury looters to justice? Your boss, your subordinates and others. Many are saying the president can only bark, he can’t bite. When are you going to bite like lion?”
Responding, President Buhari said,” I have once ruled this country, some of you know that once upon a time I came in uniform and what I did was to arrest from the president downward. The president, Vice President, the governor’s and ministers, other than the president and the Vice President, the others, I put them in Kiri-Kiri, and I told them they are guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.
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”And you know subsequently what happened- we set up about six tribunals base on the geopolitical zones, and those who were ministers and governors were asked to justify what they have in the banks and physical on the ground relative to their legitimate earnings.
“There were only two Nigerians then to my knowledge who were found to be very honourable, both of them are dead now: Bilyaminu Usman, a junior minister, from Jigawa State, and Adamu Chiroma, a minister of finance and governor of central bank. They were incredible Nigerians.”
President Buhari served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état. Buhari justified the military’s seizure of power by castigating the civilian government as hopelessly corrupt and promptly suspended Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution. In 20 months as Head of State, about 500 politicians, officials and businessmen were jailed for corruption during his stewardship.