Why I accepted centenary award -Buhari

Former military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on Saturday gave reasons for accepting the centenary award.

He said he received the award from President Goodluck Jonathan at Nigeria's centenary anniversary because of  its significance.

Buhari, however, did not state whether or not a past leader should receive such an award, if there had been disclosures of his wrongdoing while in office, when asked if a former military dictator, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, deserved such award.

He described the issuance of the centenary awards as 'the beauty of the system' inside Nigeria. He said honouring leaders with awards should 'not be a difficult thing,' if past leaders declare their assets, before and afterwards.

He however said, the Federal Government under the leadership of Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party were not doing enough in fighting corruption.

He said if there is sincerity, fighting corruption is not a difficult thing.

Buhari, a leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress, said this in an online interview with SaharaReporters, which was monitored by SUNDAY PUNCH.

He said, 'If Nigeria is serious about finding which of its leaders at which level is corrupt or not, it's not a difficult thing.

'This PDP government with President Jonathan has a problem of fishing out corrupt officials.'

The former presidential candidate declined to state whether he would contest the presidency or not in 2015. He, however, said his supporters within the APC are insisting that he should participate in the race.

On his inclusion in the target list of the Boko Haram, he said the government had provided him with security where he lived and armed escorts when he moved about. 'I honestly do not feel upset by the Boko Haram,' he added. PUNCH.