By Mo Isa
The immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has received a swipe from Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, saying the former’s administration looted the country dry.
Ribadu disclosed this in Abuja at the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference 2023, with the theme: “Leveraging Defence Diplomacy, and Effective Regional Collaboration for Enhanced National Security.”
Ribadu who said Buhari left Nigeria bankrupt before relinquishing power, assured that the financial mess wouldn’t affect budgetary allocations, as everything would be done to enhance robust and viable defence management and apparatus in the country.
“I assure you that the Federal Government will not rest on its laurels in ensuring a robust and viable defence management and security apparatus to address contemporary challenges even in the face of enormous budgetary constraints.
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“Yes, we’re facing budgetary constraints. It is okay for me to tell you. Fine, it is important for you to know that we inherited a difficult situation, literally a bankrupt country, with no money, to a point where we can say that all the money we’re getting now, we’re paying back what was taken. It is serious!
“But this administration is doing its best to meet our requirements, particularly the armed forces, and I believe that you leaders will be able to testify to that,” Ribadu, who’s also the former Chairman of EFCC said.
According to Peoples Gazette, those in attendance at the conference were the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of State, Bello Matawalle; Permanent Secretary in the Defence Ministry, Ibrahim Kana; the Chief of Defence Staff, and other service chiefs.
The NSA’s comment about the current administration inherited a country in financial distress comes after President Bola Tinubu lavished over $500,000 on a five-day stay in a luxury hotel in New York in September.
The president is also presently pushing to spend N13.5 billion ($16.2 million) to renovate his official residences in Abuja and Lagos, where he already has a mansion and would rarely use it as President.
