President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Boko Haram insurgents were being sponsored by forces outside Nigeria.

He said the military needed a lot of money for purchase of gadgets, spare parts and arms to completely wipe out the terrorists.

Buhari spoke during a live presidential town hall meeting tagged, “The Candidates” at Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday.

“We need a lot of money for the military for spare parts, communication gadgets, arms and ammunition. Boko Haram are certainly supported by forces outside Nigeria,” the President said.

The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate said he became the candidate of the party because of the support of National Executive Committee.

He said, “I said it much earlier at National Executive Committee of our party that if my party recommended me to its executive, I would contest. I did that to save time and wide discussions among members of the party.”

When the moderator, Mrs Kadariah Ahmed, asked the President to address the allegation that only members of the opposition parties were being hounded in the corruption fight, he said, “I think that is not a fair criticism. I don’t think that there is anybody that is being pointed out as corrupt in the last dispensation that we looked the other way.”

The President was asked by the moderator what he was doing about allegations against members of his cabinet.

She cited the case of a former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, and a petition by a non-governmental organisation against Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

“I have to be careful. But if there are strong allegations and people have bank accounts, names of companies looted, contracts awarded, then we take them before the courts through EFCC and ICPC and we have to trust the system,” Buhari added.

Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, said the case of Lawal was before EFCC and a directive had been issued for his trial.

He noted that all cases involving members of the cabinet referred to EFCC would receive attention.

Osinbajo also said the President needed another term to consolidate on the gains of his administration.

“We campaigned on three fundamental issues namely, the economy, fight against corruption and security. In those three respects, we believe that we have laid very strong foundations and I very strongly believe that we are on to much more progress if given a second opportunity,” Osinbajo said.

Punch