Always conduct research on crime-related issues, Presidency tells journalists

As part of activities to mark his one year in office, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted members of the State House Correspondents to an anniversary lunch during which he put the challenge to the journalists to always thoroughly investigate stories related to crime in order to foster accurate and factual reportage.

Accuracy in reporting, Buhari said, will ensure that members of the public have a better understanding and appreciation of issues such as criminal acts.

According to Buhari, “How do you define change? Luckily, our party identified three major items – security, economy and corruption.

“When you want to interrogate our visitors try and do some research so that when they are coming next time, they will do research themselves.”

The President noted his administration’s efforts to get the international community’s support towards full recovery of the diverted $2.1 billion meant for purchase of military hardware to fight insurgency. The funds, he said, were released to officials who were trusted to use them judiciously, but rather than deliver on the trust reposed on them, these individuals deliberately diverted the funds.

“They just sat, just the way you are sitting now, and shared the money into their own account. They didn’t even bother. So, we are still trying to get the cooperation of the international community and we have to do it with a lot of respect to the judiciary,” Buhari said.

Allowing the judicial process to take its full course was crucial in order to avoid the “technicalities” that may arise from interference in the anti-corruption fight, the President said.