Buhari is aware and in charge of everything happening in the country — Presidency

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, says the statement by President Muhammadu Buhari on insecurity in the country was misconstrued.

While playing host to some citizens of Niger state on Monday, the president had said he was taken aback by the new manifestations of insecurity in the north-west.

“I was taken aback by what is happening in the north-west and other parts of the country. During our campaigns, we knew about the Boko Haram. What is coming now is surprising,” Buhari had said.

His comment had sparked a controversy, with Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader, asking him to resign.

But in a statement on Thursday, Adesina said the president did not say he is unaware of the security challenges in the country.

According to him, what Buhari meant was that he was surprised about the emergence of banditry in the north-west, a region “almost homogeneous, made up of Hausa-Fulani and largely Muslim”.

He added that the president is “fully aware” and “in charge” of the situation.

“The reportage of the statement above was slanted to mean that President Buhari said he was unaware of the security challenges in some parts of the country. Far from it, except to the mischievous mind. The President is fully aware and fully in charge of all that is going on,” Adesina said.

– The Cable