President Muhammadu Buhari has defended the federal government’s detention of former National Security Officer, Sambo Dasuki, a retired Colonel, and the leader of Biafra agitation, Nnamdi Kanu, despite bails granted them by the court.

The President, who was fielding questions Wednesday night during his first media chat since he was sworn in seven months ago, suggested that the two accused persons may jump bail if released.

On Dasuki, who has been granted bail on three different cases but is still being held by security agents, the President stated unequivocally that he had committed too many grave atrocities to be allowed bail which he might exploit to run away.

“If you see the atrocities these people committed against this country, we can’t allow them to jump bail.

“They would just say to Central Bank give so and so, 40 billion naira just like that; 40 billion,” he noted before adding that it would be unfair by those affected by the Boko Haram insurgency for the former NSA to travel outside the country for medical reason.

“What of the over two million people displaced, most of them orphans whose fathers have been killed, what type of government do you want to run? We cannot allow that,” he said.

In the same vein, the President said that Kanu who has dual Nigerian and British citizenship came into Nigeria without a passport from either country and had illegally brought in sophisticated weapons.

“Do you know the level of atrocities the Kanu of Biafra has committed? This man came into the country with sophisticated weapons. This is a man who has two passports, one Nigerian passport and British.

“He came into Nigeria without any passport and was broadcasting his pirate Radio Biafra against the people of Nigeria. There’s a case of treason felony against him already,” he stated while also wondering what the Igbo claim of marginalisation is all about.

“The Igbo should explain what they mean by marginalization. Who is marginalizing them? I contested and won my election and I appointed the right people into my government.

“If they feel marginalized, who is the junior Minister of Petroleum, who is the CBN Governor, who is the Minister for Labour, what about Science and Technology?” the President queried.

Speaking on the issue of Chibok girls, the President said the government does not have information about their whereabouts or state of health but reaffirmed that the federal government was ready and willing to negotiate should there be concrete intelligence that they are alive.

“We are keeping our options open on the abducted school girls. Our primary objective is to ensure that the girls are complete and in sound health.

“Once we establish contact with credible leadership of Boko Haram and know where the girls are, we are ready to negotiate with the sect,” the President explained.

He continued: “I am working with Niger, Chad and Cameroon governments on the possible recovery of the abducted girls.

“The truth of the matter is that no Chibok girl has been recovered.”

He further said the use of hijab may be banned, as done in Chad, if suicide bombings continue.

Speaking on corruption and the public disclosure of his asset declaration, the President said anybody can go to request for a copy, adding he does not need to approve the disclosure of the information therein.

“I have declared my assets four times in the past. You have the constitutional right to go to the relevant government agency to go and seek for it,” he said.

Responding to questions about members of his cabinet accused of corruption or not declaring their asset, he explained that the constitution already mandates them to declare their asset without him having to ask them to do so.

He was also clear that he did not knowingly appoint as minister anybody facing corruption charges but assured that any of them found to be corrupt would not only be sacked but also prosecuted.

President Buhari accused the previous administration of failing to pay its counterpart funding for projects, especially the railway projects, despite the Chinese agreeing to shoulder about 70 per cent of the cost.

“China agreed to pay 70% of cost of railway projects between Lagos and Kaduna and Lagos and Calabar, but previous government failed to pay counterpart funding of 30%.

“You cannot get a better deal anywhere in the world,” he noted, adding that government is renegotiating with some of the contractors for longer payment terms with less interest.

On the hardship caused the limitation on foreign exchange, particularly students already schooling outside the country, he promised to quickly find a way of ameliorating their problem so that their education does not suffer.

The President was also taken up on the issue of billions of naira budgeted for cars by the presidency but he said the cars would be used when government hosts meetings of heads of state.

“I turned down a N400 million car proposal for the presidency. I said the cars I have are good enough for 10 years,” he noted.

He said he would meet with members of the National Assembly regarding their budget for cars, put at N4.5 billion, even though they had already collected car loans.

“We are having problem with the National Assembly regarding TSA. I have to holding a closed-door meeting with the National Assembly regarding the cars they are trying to buy. I hope they haven’t bought them yet.

“I can’t see the National Assembly paying 4.5 billion naira to buy cars after collecting transport allowance. I will revisit that story.

“We have to live within our means.” he quipped.