by Anike Jacobs

Details of the closed door discussion that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had with the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, in Lagos on Sunday have emerged.

According to a source at the meeting who spoke to Puunch Newspapers, the discussion centered on the strategies that Buhari would adopt to end insecurity in the country if elected President.

The strategies to include the elimination of corruption, transparency in the management of defence budgets and an overhaul of the nation’s security apparatus.

The source further said, “Kerry said the US was interested in someone that could curb the Boko Haram menace. He said the concern of President Barack Obama was that terrorism should not spread beyond the North-East as it seemed to be doing so gradually.

“Kerry asked what the strategy of the APC would be in fighting insecurity.”

“Buhari told Kerry that the Goodluck Jonathan administration had spent billions of dollars on defence and that a large portion of the money was diverted by those in power and the President has turned a blind eye to this.

“Buhari also stated that that there was something wrong with the intelligence-gathering mechanism of the military. He therefore promised that he would revamp the security apparatuses of the government.

“He further said Boko Haram members were not ghosts but that they were gaining ground because the security agencies had been compromised.”

“He also promised that transparency would be his watchword in the disbursement of defence budgets. He promised to ensure that every kobo spent on security would be accounted for as this would ensure that our soldiers get the appropriate equipment and have  their morale boosted.”

“Buhari said when the National Assembly set up a hearing with the heads of security agencies to know how the defence budgets were being spent, the Presidency scuttled it because it was obvious that the money for equipment was not being spent judiciously. He said by such an act, the Jonathan government was not encouraging transparency in the way and manner money meant for security was being spent.”

Sola