Buhari: My Leahy comment not an indictment of Obama

President Muhammadu Buhari says his comment on the Leahy law “aiding and abetting” Boko Haram was not meant as an indictment of President Barack Obama.

He has also said he is looking forward to more cooperation with the United States (UN) after his four-day trip to the country.

Refuting the reports that he accused the US government of aiding Boko Haram by placing arm embargo on Nigeria, Buhari said he was quoted out of context during his lecture at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

Buhari had said: “The application of the Leahy law amendment by the US government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorist group.”

But in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the presidency said Buhari did not mean to indict the US in anyway.

“The regrets expressed by President Buhari at USIP about the impact of the application of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s war against  Boko Haram and terrorism cannot be construed as an indictment of President Barack  Obama and the United States government who have publicly and privately declared their preparedness to give the Buhari administration the fullest possible support and assistance,” the statement read.

“Within the context in which they were made, President Buhari’s comments on the adverse effect of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s efforts to contain Boko Haram’s  atrocious acts of terrorism should only be taken as a passionate appeal for even greater understanding and support from  a very powerful and longstanding ally.

“President Buhari has nothing but the highest possible regard for President Obama, the United States government, the people of the United States, their laws and institutions.

“The president had very successful and useful talks with President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, secretary of state John Kerry, other high-ranking US government officials and members of United States Congress during his visit to Washington DC.

“It is his expectation that those talks will lead to better mutual understanding and a further deepening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, especially in Nigeria’s current priority areas of  defence and security cooperation.”