Those accusing me of locking them up… I have been locked up too, so what? - Pres Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari wants those accusing him of imprisoning them during his days as a military ruler to know that he was also kept behind bars for more than three years. 

Speaking at a meeting with Nigerians in South Africa at the end of the African Union (AU) summit in Johannesburg, the president went down memory lane in encouraging those in attendance not to give up on their targets.

This is my first time of attending these types of meetings (AU) and they go on and on until about 1 in the morning. And then you are supposed to start in the morning again. Everybody is repeating what the other speaker has said instead of to keep their mouth shut. Anyways, it is a great experience,” he said. “I have listened to the address paraphrased by the counsel-general, I’m pleased that wherever Nigerians are whether in South Africa or Saudi Arabia or Europe or Alaska for that matter, you’ll make an impact both positive and negative. “There is no way 160 million people or more cannot make impact wherever they are. We have so many cultures and nationalities. “At a point I was very frightened; [I] don’t know how many of you kept records. I was afraid Nigeria might be like Somalia. The Somalis are the same people; they are all Muslims but because the elites are self-centered, selfish, they have succeeded to make Somalia a war country for the last 20 years. “For that reason, I said Nigerians are much more vulnerable, we have so many nationalities no matter how you look at it, Hausa-Fulanis, Kanuris, Ishekiris, Yorubas, Igbos. We are actually people of different cultures but since 1914, we have merged in spite of religion and culture, married across, produce children and only crazy people can think of balkanising Nigeria. But we are not short of crazy people that is the frightening part of it. “But I assure you that after being in the military for 25 years, and getting to the highest rank and becoming head of state and under unusual circumstances. As head of state, I went straight to detention for three and half years so those who accused me of locking them up, I too have been locked up, so what?