US president praises Buhari's leadership
Military alone cannot defeat Boko Haram, Biden tells Nigerian leader

Nduka Nwosu in Washington and Tobi Soniyi in Abuja with agency report 


During his four-day official visit to the United States of America, President Muhammadu Buhari will ask President Barack Obama to help to locate and return $150 billion believed to have been stolen by corrupt officials in the last decade.

Buhari, who met with his US counterpart at the White House monday, made this know in an opinion article published in The Washington Post (see back page for the full article).

“The fact that I now seek Obama’s assistance in locating and returning $150 billion in funds stolen in the past decade and held in foreign bank accounts on behalf of former, corrupt officials is a testament to how badly Nigeria has been run,” he wrote. “This way of conducting our affairs cannot continue.”
Buhari, who took office on May 29 after defeating former President Goodluck Jonathan in March elections, pledged during his campaign to clamp down on graft, including in the oil industry that provides Nigeria with about two-thirds of government revenue and 90 percent of export earnings.

Buhari also made it clear that he would not appoint his ministers to his cabinet until September because he still needs time to make the right choices.

The president, in The Washington Post article, justified his action by making reference to Obama who also for several months after taking oath of office, did not have a full cabinet.

“When cabinet ministers are appointed in September, it will be some months after I took the oath of office. It is worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full cabinet in place for several months after first taking office; the United States did not cease to function in the interim.

“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 wrote.

When he received Buhari in the Oval Office monday, Obama expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigerian president’s to handle the challenges facing Nigeria, even as he pledged his country’s readiness to assist Nigeria in its developmental challenges.
Obama — facing criticism for not including Africa’s most populous country and biggest economy on an Africa tour later this week that will take him to Kenya and Ethiopia – turned on the charm, lavishing praise on the Nigerian president.

He said Buhari had come with a clear agenda to tackle the problems of corruption and insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram sect as well as other violence criminal activities.

Obama expressed appreciation for Buhari’s leadership style so far, saying that his administration would continue to assist and help Nigeria in overcoming its challenges.

Obama said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here in the White House for his first visit since the historic election that took place.

“Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the world, one of the most important countries in the African continent.

“Recently we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. NNevertheless, the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process that can change take place.

“President Buhari came into office with a reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda, that is to make sure that he brings safely security and peace to his country.

“He is very concerned about the spread and the violence that is taking place there and the atrocities and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists.

“And he has a very clear agenda with respect to rooting out the corruption that too often has held back the economic growth and prosperity of his country.

“On both these issues, we’re looking forward to hearing more about his plans and how the United States can partner with Nigeria so that Nigeria ends up being an anchor not only of prosperity and stability in the eastern (sic) part of the (African) continent, but can also be an outstanding role model for developing countries around the world.”

The US president added that his government “very much look forward to talking about security issues, how we can cooperate on counterterrorism. We’re looking forward to discussing how we can be helpful in addressing some of the corruption issues that have held Nigeria back, and unleashing the incredible talent of the Nigerian people”.

Continuing, Obama said: “We all recognise that some of the best businesspeople in the world are from Nigeria, and they thrive as they travel to other countries, but we want to make sure that they’re also helping folks thrive in Nigeria.

“We’re also going to have an opportunity to talk about some of the other areas where Nigeria has taken leadership -- in public health issues, fighting tragedies like Ebola.

“Nigeria has an outstanding track record working with us to eradicate polio, and that gives us a framework and a template to continue to work on public health issues throughout the western part of Africa, as well as throughout the subcontinent.

“We’ll have a chance to talk about issues of climate change, electrification. As many of you know, Power Africa is one of our top priorities, making sure that we’re electrifying the continent so that it can grow faster and more people have access to the power that they need.

“So we’ve got a busy agenda, but I want to emphasise how much I appreciate President Buhari’s work so far.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him put together his team so that we can do everything that we can to help him succeed and help the people of Nigeria succeed.

“Because if they’re successful and doing well, that will have a ripple effect not only in West Africa, but throughout the world.”

Obama stated that his country was willing to stand by Nigeria as long as it remained on course, adding, “Wherever Nigeria goes, Africa goes. The continent’s destiny is tied to Nigeria’s.”

He advised Buhari to combine military action against the Boko Haram insurgency with social and economic programmes, noting that a divided country never succeeds.

“Turn the diversity of Nigeria to source of strength,” Obama said and urged five state governors who accompanied Buhari on the trip to work with the Nigerian president.

Obama also assured Buhari that the US government would continue to partner with Nigeria in ensuring political stability in Africa and around the world.
In his remarks, Buhari commended the US Government under the leadership of Obama for mounting pressure on the Goodluck Jonathan administration to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria will remain forever grateful to the US for this singular act.

He said the visit of the US Secretary of State John Kerry to Nigeria before the elections to see the former president, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the opposition was a positive development that saw Nigeria through the elections.

He added: “And the maintenance of pressure by United States mainly and Europe to make sure that the elections were free, fair and credible brought us to where we are today.


“It would have been almost impossible if the United States did not maintain the pressure on the former Nigerian government. Nigeria will remain ever grateful to President Obama and the United States for helping Nigeria to consolidate its gains on a democratic system.”

Buhari thanked Obama for inviting him to visit his country, as well as his administration’s support for Nigeria.

The governors of Nasarawa, Borno, Imo, Oyo and Edo States as well as some Nigerian government officials accompanied Buhari during his meeting with Obama.

Before his White House meeting with Obama, Buhari met with US Vice-President Joe Biden who told him that the war against Boko Haram could not be won through military operations alone.
Biden made the remark when he hosted Buhari to a breakfast meeting at his official residence at the Naval Observatory.

The breakfast meeting afforded Biden the opportunity to compare notes with Buhari on the terror war.

A statement from the president’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina recalled that the US had also encountered threats from terrorists, who launched massive attacks that killed thousands on September 11 2001, while Nigeria battles the Boko Haram sect causing carnage in the North-eastern part of the country.

At the meeting, Biden reportedly informed his guest what the US had learnt from the terror war, counselling that victory could not come through the military option alone.

“Military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes,” Biden said, promising that the US would work with Nigeria in that direction.

Biden assured Buhari and his team of the goodwill of the US in providing assistance to rebuild the Nigerian economy, but observed that corruption and weak institutions must be tackled if Nigeria was to benefit from reforms.

He added that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and only then would investors be attracted to the country.
Like Obama, the US vice-president congratulated Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 elections, adding that it was obvious that the president enjoyed the confidence of the Nigerian people.
Responding, Buhari thanked the US for standing by Nigeria in the run up to general election early this year, noting that the visit of the US Secretary of State was critical as it sent home the message that the US would not brook the subversion of the people’s will.

On oil theft, the Nigerian president estimated losses at between $10 billion and $20 billion, stressing that such income could have been deployed with the salutary impact on various spheres of national life like education and healthcare, among others.
Both countries pledged their renewed commitment to work as partners at the very insightful meeting.
After his meetings with Obama and Biden, Buhari was expected to participate in a media chat with the US Secretary of Commerce, ECOWAS Ambassadors in Washington, US Attorney General, Secretary of Treasury and a group of potential investors.
Buhari was also to be hosted to a dinner by the US Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council on Africa.

Buhari arrived Washington on Sunday on four-day official visit to the US during which he would discuss bilateral issues with Obama and other government officials

The president, who arrived Joint Base Andrews Airport in Washington, was received by the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Mrs. Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Mr, James Entwistle, US Ambassador to Nigeria.



Others at the airport to receive the president included the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye, Nigerian embassy officials and the state governors on his delegation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the president, who left the airport straight to the Blair House on Pensylvania Avenue, immediately went into meetings with US government officials.
On their arrival on Sunday, Buhari and his delegation was hosted to a dinner by former US Secretary of State, Madeline Albright.



http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/buhari-seeks-obama-s-help-to-recover-150bn-nigerian-loot-/215177/

Are you expecting me to believe this



Who cares let them keep lying

Only!!! Buhari I smell lies o

Really?

Why should PMB be telling American President that $150billion has been missing in Nigerian Treasury?

Thought GEJ said no money is missing, if missing, America will know about it cos it is their money.

Back to the issue, I think this is good for the recovery of Nigerian fund kept in US. The discussion will at least help to facilitate the part recovery.
Future laundering of Nigerian fund can also be minimized through joint process.

Sai buhari may God continue to keep you, the cry of millions of Nigerians is not in vain.

God you are too .much
www.

Whoa!!

$150 billion? - Goodness gracious me.

That's enough to feed the continent of Africa for a decade.

May the good Lord give u the wisdom and knowledge to track this culprits....
Love u sir!!!!
Uncountable likes for you

And GEJ was only there for less than 6?
OBJ! How far na?

Why is PMB exonerating IBB and Abacha from the lootocracy. I smell fish and cows here


*Modified* the numbers being bandied about by PMB looks like Zimbabwe dollars

cc: lalasticlala ishilove

That's just the money discovered missing. The ones not discovered will make a dead man say "What! And Nigeria still survive?".

Things like this makes me remember Mariam Abacha's infamous comment, "no matter how poor we are we can never be as poor as Dangote".

You just have to give it to our political elite!. They're the ones who really know how to steal and get away with it.

PROVACATEUR:
Why is PMB exonerating IBB and Abacha from the lootocracy. I smell fish and cows here

I believe its because the era of IBB and Abacha were military regimes, looting is part of their decree!.

I hope you recover them all but it is impossible. You can't recover one quarter of that money without bringing down more than half of our past and present leaders including those that made you. What will you do when you need a private jet for your re-election campaign but you have jailed almost all the owners of private jets in the country? Just try and do your best. If GEJ is found guilty, jail him. He had his chance but he was scared of your brothers and godfathers and because of that he couldn't fight them. The most painful part was that he didn't even do anything for us as his people just because he was trying to please your brothers. If only he had concentrated in developing our region, by now even if you don't do anything for us, we won't be bothered and you wouldn't be able to touch him. I wish you goodluck sha but I'm not optimistic.

I see all the thieves go into plea bargain this season.
No hiding place for the looters, friends or foes

joseph1832:
I believe its because the era of IBB and Abacha were military regimes, looting is part of their decree!.

Take your opinion, wrap it very well then shove it up your anus.


Any other comment from you will be

*IGNORED*

Is it possible to get a breakdown of this alleged 150 billion lost through corruption.

Is it an actual amount in dollars lost

Is it the amount lost in productivity.

Who,how, where,from,due, etc

Will this probing affect Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Uncle Shegai Mr OBJ? If yes then am quiting.
Not doing agn. If no tell me why.

Z

Cool

Cool.
We cannot do it on our own.
We cannot be a giant without being associated with a giant.
A bird learnt how to fly by growing up with a bird lest it drags like a snail if it lived amongst snails.
The thing is in your pursuit to become great by associating yourself with giants, you must remember to be strong-willed, independent and be free from restrictions.
Good move and we hope it yield results.

More tips on www.nairamode.com

I SMELL LIES



KILODE?

$150B, Bubu is high on kunu.

Why $150B? you people should try $6000B always throwing out numbers without any fact to back them up.

Please what is the source of these numbers being paraded by a supposed president?

Is this not the same man we've been told to be patient with that he was still studying the hand-over note?

Without any minister, no cabinet member.... Buhari single handedly without any help traced and calculated $150 billion missing?

Why the past decade?, why not the past 40 years?, at least we are sure of abacha loot... so why stop at a decade?, Is this not a clear plot to exonerate his army colleagues like IBB, Abdulsalam and OBJ?,

Is this not a clear jab on the ex-administration by limiting to a decade knowing that Yaradua is not alive to be attacked?

Has it occurred to anyone that USA tracks all the looted funds lodged in their economy?... If they had the interest of Nigeria at heart... why have they stayed silent and not repatriated these funds in the past even with their OBJ (CIA tool) in power?

Why should a supposed president be so loose with numbers at the height of global scrutiny? Was that meant to seek sympathy or are the campaigns not over yet?

If Buhari is unable to repatriate exactly $150billion, should we assume he pocketed the rest?

Are there no smart people around this man?

And the irony of this all is that the same men sitting around him while he was making these statements are the same men who looted the funds and used same is campaigning him into office. People like Amaechi, Oshiomole, Rochas etc have looted their states dry, invested in the presidential elections and they are now off to the US begging to have repatriate funds (same sitting in their pockets)

Who actually is fooling who here? With the way things are going... No incumbent will ever hand over to an opposition in Africa (Lessons learnt from Nigeria)

ya salam

And many are dying hmmm

Barrrrrr

joseph1832:
I believe its because the era of IBB and Abacha were military regimes, looting is part of their decree!.

So they shouId go scot free because they are above the Iaw right

No wonder PMB gave abacha a cIean biII as regards steaIing/corruption despite the biIIions recovered after his demise...SMH

The thing is....no one won't be punished for stealing the money because if we start to punish the thieves, someone is going to ask why we are not punishing the thieves of the past. And when we punish the thieves of the past, someone is going to ask why we are picking on them...then tribalism gets into the mix, then religion.....and at the end of the day, everybody and his mother gets off scott free...to keep on stealing.

Nigerians love to talk about fighting corruption....until action is demanded.