I don’t benefit from contracts – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, in Abuja said he had no regrets
being a person of honesty and integrity.

"I am satisfied with what I am. I am happy I have kept myself and
people close to me from benefiting from government contracts," the
President told a delegation of the Supreme Council for Sharia in
Nigeria at the State House.

President Buhari said he did not award contracts and did not care
about who got them so long as they did a good job at a cost that is
justifiable to the nation.

According to him, "I have been in many places including (Ministry of)
Petroleum. I would have gone to jail if I had taken an oil well. For
integrity and honesty, I have no regrets. By this, I have contributed
to my social safety. I won't go to jail."

The President, who said he had been accused of many things, said his
critics cannot accuse him of stealing.

"You cannot accuse me of stealing," he said, adding, "I have appointed
ministers and they are in charge. I appeal to their integrity. When
they come here (Federal Executive Council) Chambers, we ensure they
follow the due process. If I owned an oil well, I would have gone to
jail."

President Buhari also responded to a number of issues raised by the
delegation, including complaints that Muslims had been marginalised in
appointments to government institutions such as the military and the
civil service.

He said this illustrated how difficult his job is because he faced the
same criticism from adherents of other faiths. "I am in a difficult
situation," he admitted.

On the burning issue of violent conflicts in some parts of country,
President Buhari said he was putting in his best. He said that
following his dissatisfaction with the performance of the Police in
Zamfara State, he ordered a massive transfer of officers and men who
had stayed three years and above in the troubled State.

The President appealed to the religious leaders to instruct their
followers on the importance of possessing their own voters' cards
which he described as a "national entitlement," and to preach justice
to all which is an instituted pillar of Islam.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Vice-President, Sheikh
Hadiyyatullahi Abdulrashid commended President Buhari for
accomplishing much of what he promised before his election.

He likened him to the captain of a capsizing ship and the messiah
needed by the country.