In the short interview, Amanpour asked the retired General questions about the economy, security, rights abuses, Chibok girls, corruption and other sundry issues.
1. Fixing the Economy: Reacting to a question by Amanpour on the economy, President Buhari provided an answer that highlighted security as critical to economic revival:
Amanpour: You mentioned the economy and the fall in oil prices over the last many months, how are you going to deal with that? Cos that’s really what your people want?
Buhari: My people, firstly I believe, they want er, the security in the country to be stabilized, so that er, normal life, both in the Southern part of the country where the militants are still sabotaging oil installations and kidnapping people and demanding ransom and in the North East of the country where Boko Haram is still active… nothing will work until the country is secure.
2. Negotiating with Boko Haram: The President said he would be ready to negotiate with Boko Haram for the release of the Chibok girls if the credibility of those seeking to negotiate is ascertained.
Amanpour: What about the girls, the famous Chibok girls? The 200 or so who were abducted so long ago? There are suggestions that the Boko Haram captors may seek to trade them for their incarcerated inmates who they want to get out, is your government willing to trade those girls in that regard?
Buhari: We have to be very careful about the credibility of various Boko Haram leaderships coming up and claiming that they can deliver. We have to be very careful indeed. We are taking our time, we want to bring them safe back home to their parents, to their school.
Amanpour: So are you in principle against or would you consider negotiating with Boko Haram if you can verify the credibility of those who approach you?
Buhari: I cannot be against it. I told you our main objective as a government is to secure those girls safe and sound back to their schools and are rehabilitated to go back to normal life. So, if we are convinced, that the leadership who presents itself can deliver those girls then we can negotiate and see what they want
3.Keeping Campaign promises: Pressed on his campaign promises and how he hopes to fulfil them, President Buhari said he wants to be held to his promises.
Amanpour: You came to power on a platform that you would do better than the previous president in all regards; security, economy corruption etc. They have been 100s of people killed since you’ve become president how can you do any better?
Buhari: I think I can be held to my promises for the next 3 and ¾ years ahead of me. I think also it is too early for anybody to pass judgement on my campaign promises.
4.Rooting out Corruption: Pressed further on his campaign promise to root out corruption, President Buhari said no one will be spared.
Amanpour: What about your campaign promise to root out corruption? What if it turns out that some of the guilty ones were members of your party, or your own associates, would you crack down on them too?
Buhari: I guess I have to, there isn’t going to be any party member or personality who can escape justice
5.Trial of past African leaders: Asked to comment on the ongoing trial of Hissen Habre, former president of Chad, President Buhari said he supported the process. Amanpour: So, finally let me ask you about a former African leader, the former dictator of Chad Hissène Habré, who is being tried or at least they are trying to try him in Senegal. Do you support that process of trying an accused African leader in Africa rather than at International Criminal Court?
Buhari: Justice is justice whether in Africa or elsewhere in the world… I support any process that is based on justice.
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