Like UK’s Cameron, Trump harps on massive corruption in Nigeria

Just as former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria as fantastically corrupt, nearly two years ago, President Donald Trump of US on Monday in Washington branded Africa’s most populous nation as a fertile ground for massive corruption.

Speaking while holding a joint press conference with President Muhammadu Buhari on the grounds of the White House, Trump said, “Nigeria has a massive reputation for corruption.”

“I discussed it with the president and we agreed to do something on it.
“We are working to cut” the corruption cases down, Mr Trump added.

Buhari refused to join issues with his host who had, at an earlier meeting, also decried selective attacks and killing of Christians in some section of the country.

Read also: OMO-AGEGE: ‘He who lives by the sword should die by the sword’

He rather praised President Trump for supporting the country’s war against Boko Haram insurgents, especially putting American soldiers on the ground to provide training and technical support for Nigerian soldiers who have faced a protracted war against terrorists in North east Nigeria.

Buhari also cleverly refused to publicly commit himself into any remarks on Trump’s recent ‘shithole’ comment, insisting that he could not trust media reports and would rather not speak on them.

“I am being careful about what the press says about others and myself. But the best thing for me to do is to keep quiet,” Buhari said. He harped on what his government had done to curb human rights abuses, especially in the ongoing war against terrorism.

“The government of Nigeria remains committed to human rights,” even in the course of fighting terrorism, Buhari said.

 

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