Obama, who spoke to reporters at the outset of the meeting with Buhari, said the Nigerian leader came into office with a reputation for integrity.
“President Buhari came into office with reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda that is to make sure that he has been bringing safely security and peace to his country.
“He is very concerned about the spread and the violence that is taking place there and the atrocities and has a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists. And he has a very clear agenda in terms of rooting out the corruption that too often has held back the economic growth and prosperity of his country.
“I want to emphasize how much I appreciate President Buhari’s work so far. I have seen him put together a team so that we can do everything that we can to help him succeed and help the people of Nigeria succeed.”
The US president assured Buhari that his government would continue to partner with Nigeria in ensuring political stability in Africa and around the world.
Obama said Nigeria is one of the most important nations in the world, and congratulated the country for its recent peaceful elections.
He also lauded Nigeria for her leadership position in the fight against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease and polio.
The US president pledged his government’s commitment to giving Nigeria the necessary recognition with a view to bringing peace to Africa and the world.
“Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. Nevertheless, the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process that change can take place.”
Buhari lauds US role in 2015 polls
In his remarks, Buhari said the US and Europe mounted pressure on his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria in 2015, adding that Nigeria would forever remain grateful for that singular act.
“The visit of the Secretary of State before the elections to see the former president, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission and the opposition was a positive trend that saw us through the elections.
“And the maintenance of pressure by United States mainly and Europe to make sure that the elections were free, fair and credible made us to be where we are now.
“It would have been almost impossible if the United States did not maintain the pressure on the former Nigerian Government.’’
Buhari said he was looking forward to having a fruitful engagement with the US government.
He said he was delighted that the US government had indicated interest in helping his administration to bring to fruition its goals of tackling insecurity, corruption and youth unemployment.
President Buhari was accompanied by the governors of Borno, Imo, Oyo, Nasarawa and Edo States as well as some government officials.
Force alone can’t end terror – US Vice President
United States Vice President Joe Biden also told President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday that the war against terrorism cannot be won through military option alone.
He spoke at his Naval Observatory official residence where he held a breakfast meeting with Buhari.
Biden said military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, promising that the US would collaborate with Nigeria in that direction.
The US vice president specifically assured President Buhari of the goodwill of his country in rebuilding the economy of Nigeria.
He, however, emphasised that corruption and weak institutions should be tackled if Nigeria must benefit from reforms.
He further stated that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy for investors to be attracted to the country.
The US vice president congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the 2015 general elections, pointing out that such victory was a demonstration of the confidence Nigerians had on their new leader.
Buhari, in his remarks, thanked the US for supporting Nigeria in the run-up to 2015 general elections.
He described the visit of the Secretary of State, John Kerry, as critical, saying it sent home the message that America would not “brook the subversion of the people’s will”.
President Buhari told his host that Nigeria had lost between $10 billion and $20 billion to oil theft.
He said such money could have been deployed with salutary impact on health, education among other sectors.
Obama: Africa’s destiny tied to Nigeria’s
United States President Barrack Obama has told Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari that the destiny of the African continent is tied to that of Nigeria.
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in his twitter handle, quoted the US president as saying this in Washington DC yesterday at a meeting with Buhari.
Adesina quoted Obama to have said that: “Wherever Nigeria goes, Africa goes. The continent’s destiny is tied to Nigeria’s.”
He said the US president charged Buhari to turn Nigeria’s adversity to a source of strength as “A divided country never succeeds.”
Adesina said Obama also told Buhari that the US government was willing to stand with Nigeria as long as the country (Nigeria) remains on course.
The presidential aide also quoted the American president as describing Buhari as a man of integrity.
According to him, Obama also told Buhari to combine military action against Boko Haram with social and economic programmes.
He said Obama urged the five accompanying governors of Borno, Imo, Nasarawa, Edo and Oyo States as well as others to work with President Buhari.
Adesina said Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State pledged support on behalf of his colleagues and other government officials who accompanied Buhari to the four-day official visit to the US.
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