Why Nigerians should trust Buhari with the $1 billion for the fight against Boko Haram - Northern governor

macfranc007 December 19, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Eromosele Ebhomele

- Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state says those expressing fear the recently approved $1 billion could be diverted are speaking based on past experiences

- Masari, who spoke in Niger Republic, says the controversy surrounding the approval of the fund is not necessary

- He argues that the amount is not too much for the fight against insurgency

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state has said Nigerians do not need the controversy that surrounds the decision of the 36 governors to allow the federal government use $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram insurgency.

Speaking in Tahoua, Niger Republic on Monday, December 18, where he represented President Buhari as head of a four person delegation at an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the country’s attainment of republican status, Masari said with a person like President Buhari, it was not possible for the money to be diverted.

“I think it is controversial. People may be remembering that during the last administration when excess crude money was given to members of the armed forces to procure arms and ammunition, the money ended up in the pocket of some highly placed individuals.

“First of all, the money that we are giving is not up to half of what was given earlier, but we know now that with the current president it is impossible for anybody to divert this money except for what it is earmarked for,” Premium Times quoted him as saying.

“It is very important for us to appreciate security is everybody’s business and we need to fight this situation head on.

“One billion dollars is not much for security. If we have more, we can give more to make sure that the country is well secured,” he added.

Governor Masari, however, noted that those expressing the fear could have been affected by experiences of past governments.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

In the delegation were Kashim Shettima of Borno; Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and Khadijah Ibrahim, the and the minister of state for foreign affairs.

NAIJ.com earlier reported how Femi Gbajabiamila of the House of Representatives recently said that the National Assembly cannot interfere in how money from the excess crude oil account is spent as the money does not belong to the federal government.

There has been criticism over the approval for the release of $1 billion to fight Boko Haram insurgency but Channels TV reports that the member of the House of Representatives said they could not interfere.

Nigerians ask President Buhari for special Christmas Gifts - on NAIJ.com TV