By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah
Former Head of State , Yakubu Gowon on Tuesday met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, Gowon said he discussed a wide range of issues with President Buhari bordering on the anti- Corruption war, Chibok girls, fall in crude oil prices and pipeline bombings by the Niger Delta Militants.
The former Head of state also disclosed that he told President Buhari of Nigerians impatience in the fight against corruption as people are yet to see the results of the war as nobody has been prosecuted yet.
He said,”I have come to see the President, to say hello to him, I haven’t seen him for quite some time. This time I have one to see him to pay my respect to him and to let him know that I’m going out of the country on vacation and my Programme if Nigeria Prays in the UK and the USA towards the end of this month, and early next month.
” So I have come to let him know that I would be out of the country, should in case of he wants me, he knows that I’m out and he is going to pay my way back, if he wants me back for any programmes.
He added that “And of course we discussed the general affairs of the country, the problems of the country, his fight against corruption, and all the efforts that he is making to deal with it and of course, the impatience of the public to see results of the fight which have yet to be found, since people have not been prosecuted yet, that would soon begin.”
Gowon also expressed support and appreciation towards Buhari’s determination to rid the country of corruption which according to him have created setbacks for the country both locally and international.
“These are some of the issues we talked about, one appreciates his efforts and determination to rid the country of corruption, which is one of the problems that have held the country down and has created serious set backs to the country both nationally and internationally .
On the Chibok Girls rescue, Gowon said he spoke with the President on the current situation about the Chibok girls and the efforts the government is making to rescue them.
The former head of state contended that the government needed to get credible information about the whereabout of the girls and also those that would assist the government achieve that.
“I believe that the government is certainly determined to ensure that a number of these girls are brought back home safely as soon as possible. To achieve that, certain credibility must be established of our sources on information on their location.
“But as at yet, no one knows where these girls are, and all these information that you have been getting, I don’t know their sources, but all efforts at engaging the international media and sources are necessary so that this matter can be resolved once and for all.
On the current hardship being experienced in the country and doubts about the change agenda of the present administration, he said “Again we talked generally on the country and efforts the government us making to give the people what they want to see that then have money.
“Please remember we used to sell petroleum at $ 150 per barrel, but what is it today? It’s merely around $ 30 per barrel and the amount of crude oil they we used to produce over 2 million now it has gone down to about one million because of the problem we have been having when people have been blowing pipelines in the Niger Delta area. So we have problem and there isn’t enough money to be able to go round.
He expressed hope that very soon, with the efforts the government is making to get things back to normal, making contacts with the Avengers and other aggrieved militants in the Niger Delta’ who are creating havoc there, all will be well soon.
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