- * Says He Will Run To Niger Republic If Nigeria Gives Him Troubles After Power Handover
By Janet Bassey (Governance Reporter)
President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his choice of appointing women as Finance Ministers during his eight year tenure.
He also revealed why he appointed retired Col. Hameed Ali to serve as Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) all through his tenure, which will expectedly terminates on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Buhari made these disclosures in Abuja on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, during his official Commissioning of the N19.6 billion new corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) located at Maitama.
The President appointed Mrs Kemi Adeosun, a UK trained Accountant as Minister of Finance during his first tenure between 2015 and 2019. He also appointed another female Accountant, Hajia Zainab Ahmed as Adeosun's successor. While Col. Hameed Ali has remained as Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service from 2015 till date.
Buhari stated that on assumption of office as President on May 29, 2015, he decided that only women would man the strategic Ministry of Finance in the duration of his tenure in other to repel people, especially men, who naturally feel too big to disturb a woman for contracts and other favours.
“I deliberately appointed ladies so that it will give me a lot of peace", the president said, adding that "I made sure I gave the Ministry of Finance to a lady to exploit the cultural behaviour of all Nigerians: once ladies are in charge, people feel too big to go to ladies. So, I am sure peace will be allowed in the Ministry of Finance where people will go and lobby for their contracts to be paid and so on. So, they feel too big to go to ladies. So, I put a lady in charge. That gave me a lot of peace.”
On the appointment of the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, President Buhari said he chose retired Col. Hameed Ali despite all opposition including the National Assembly, because of his dexterity and leadership style. He said he trusted Col. Ali's ability to handle tough tasks which encouraged him to appoint the retired Army Officer as Customs CG to reform and restructure the para-military organization.
"As for Hameed Ali, I asked him to be in charge of Customs. No matter what people say about the late Sani Abacha, may his soul rest in peace, I knew him very well, when somehow he became president of this country, Head of State, the biggest problematic area was around Kaduna.
"He picked Colonel Hameed Ali and dumped the problems on him. My decision for Hameed Ali to come to Customs was a deliberate one. I brought Colonel Hameed Ali to ensure that I have peace of mind.”
The President however said he had identified quite early, Col. Hameed Ali's energy and competence to effectively supervise the over 1,600 km Nigeria land mass from Benin to Lake Chad. He praised Ali for the completion of the new impressive head office structure of the Nigeria Customs Service, saying it would boost the operations of Customs Service.
The new corporate headquarters, referred to as 'Customs House', is a 12-story building with five floors on both wings and with “bridges” linking the two wings. It is a project conceived in 2002 to enhance the operation and working conditions of Customs personnel and comfort of the visitors to the para-military agency.
However, speaking on his life after retirement from office on Monday, May 29, President Buhari hinted, once again, that he would first settle in his home town Daura, in Katsina State, North Western Nigeria, which, he said, is very from Abuja, before relocating to his former base kaduna state.
He also said that he has created a safe haven for himself in Niger Republic, Chad and other Nigeria neighbouring countries and would quickly run there to seek a refuge anytime he felt disturbed by Nigeria during his retirement.
According to the President, the first thing he did on coming to power in 2015 was to visit Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon to firm up a diplomatic relationship with those countries. He reasoned that it was necessary for one, especially a leader, to secure the confidence of his neighbours incase of adverse situations.
“I said these few things about my personal belief because I have only six more days to go. 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.”
The President stated that he purposely shut down the bothers between Nigeria and her neighbors a few years ago to ensure Nigerians eat what is produced locally. He cited what he viewed as the positive impacts of such measures to include encouraging local food and agricultural production, job creation and security.
“I think I am trying to make my point. Later Nigeria will appreciate it because it provides more jobs. People have gone 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.”
Buhari added: “Please note that from Lake Chad to Benin is more than 1,000km. Only God can effectively guard that border. So, you need a person who will have the energy and competence to effectively supervise it. And I deliberately closed the borders because knowing Nigerians, they order rice and give some Niger people address and then they bring the rice here. We know our potentiality.” NNL.
