Niger Republic will defend me after hand over if Nigerians disturb me, Buhari boasts
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Muhammadu Buhari has once again flaunted his filial relationship with his kith and kin in the Niger Republic as a safeguard against any act of retribution from fellow Nigerians when he leaves office on May 29.
With six days to go, Buhari said he has built personal cordial relationship with neighbouring countries, stressing that should anyone disturb him in Nigeria, his Niger Republic neighbours will defend him.
He noted that he will relocate to his country home in Daura, which is far away from Abuja and closer to the Niger Republic, where he famously claimed that he has his cousins.
The President spoke at the official commissioning of Nigeria Customs Service Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him: “I said these few things about my personal belief because I have only six more days to go.
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“And I try to plan to be as far away from Abuja as possible. I came from an area which is far away from Abuja.
“I said if anybody with force moves, I have good relationship with my neighbours. Niger people will defend me.”
According to him, if one does not secure the confidence of his neighbour he or his grandchild will be in trouble.
He recalled how he closed the border to prevent rice importation and the complaints that it would affect neighbouring countries that he should have a good relationship with.
He added that in the bid to earn the goodwill of Niger Republic, Cameroon and Chad, they were the countries he first visited on assumption of office.
Buhari said: “I think I am trying to make my point. Later Nigeria will appreciate it because it provides more jobs.
“People go back to agric. We have the land and they will produce what we eat. And for people who think that our neighbours can be a loser let’s continue to be with our neighbours.
“That is why when I became the Head of State that is President, my first visit was to Niger, Chad and Cameroon because based on neighbourhood on personal and national reason if you don’t secure the confidence of your neighbour you are in trouble.
“If you are not in trouble, your children and grandchildren will be in trouble.
“So it is very good I established relationship with my neighbours.”
He explained why he appointed Col. Hameed Ali (Retired) as the Comptroller General of Customs, stressing that he has the energy and competence to effectively supervise the over 1,600 km Nigeria land mass from Benin to Lake Chad.
