“There is no basis whatsoever to profile Mr. President as a tyrant given the fact that what he is doing is rooted in public interest and to advance the well being of the majority of Nigerians as opposed to the protection of a few privileged and powerful individuals.” he said.
Malami in an interview with Vanguard NEWSPAPERS remarked that those making the allegation against Buhari were oblivious of the national interest, which the President was protecting.
The minister said that what was at stake was a conflict between public and private interest, insisting that there was no way any right-thinking leader would allow individual interest to override the national interest.
Malami said that in all democracies around the world, national interests are always given top priority over individual interests, especially when such individuals had committed heinous crimes against society.
The minister pointed out that both Dasuki and Kanu, who were recently admitted to bail, had committed very serious crimes against the nation and its people and should not be made to appear as victims of any state victimisation.
Malami said: “These people compromised national interest leading to multiple loss of lives and property of innocent Nigerians and are now crying foul that they did nothing wrong.
“Here, when you weigh national interest against individual interest, the latter must naturally give way.
“Are we now saying that the collective national interest should give way for the individual interest of a few people who are working hard to cause more havoc?
“What the president is doing is to end the unfortunate regime of impunity which some of these people used to perpetuate injustice, corruption and lawlessness in the land and that does not amount to tyranny,” Malami said.
According to the minister, Buhari’s actions so far derive strength from Section 15 (4-5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which is to fight corruption holistically and give the nation a new lease of life and has nothing to do with tyranny or oppression.
Section 15 (4) says: “The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various peoples of the federation to the extent that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties. Sub-section 5 states that “the State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”
The Nigerian Bar Association had earlier criticized President Buhari for not heeding two court judgments directing the Department of State Service, DSS, to release both Col. Dasuki and Mr. Kanu.
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