The Presidency has insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari is an unbiased person who believes the rights of citizens must be respected, irrespective of their religious, ethnic, and political affiliation.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said this on Thursday in an interview on Channels Television.
He condemned the allegation that the Muhammadu Buhari administration was intimidating perceived opponents of the government.
“There is not a shred of truth in the allegation,” he said during an appearance on Politics Today. “Those who know the President (and millions of Nigerians know him) know that he is a fair player.”
“All this talk to EU, UN, is a symptom of a party and a people that have gone out of ideas because they have no ideas to peddle again.”
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Adesina said those making such allegation have decided to create a world for themselves and should be left alone as long as they choose to live in it.
He stressed that they were playing to the gallery to get the attention of Nigerians because they no longer have ideas.
Ahead of the general elections in 2019, the President’s spokesman faulted insinuations that his boss was interfering with the affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said not only that the electoral umpire has its independence, but President Buhari does not interfere with the activities of government agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“President Buhari has always said it; I remember that he first told me in a private conversation in 2015 … that if it is a clean, free and fair election that he leaves for Nigerians, then he will be a satisfied man,” said Adesina.
He added, “So President Buhari does not interfere with INEC, INEC is truly independent under this President.”
On the issue of new minimum wage being requested by the organised labour, the presidential aide urged the union to be considerate with the government.
He said even the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had raised concern after its last meeting that some members were still struggling to pay workers’ salaries.
“So if they (the governors) can’t pay N18,000 and labour is asking for N30,000 and is refusing to come lower, then there may be a stalemate which will not be good for the country.
“I think in the spirit of negotiation, labour should not insist on N30,000,” Adesina said.
