After much pressure from the media and members of the public President Muhammadu Buhari in a last minute effort to redeem his dwindling credibility on Thursday night finally reeled out what seem a public declaration of his assets.
In a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President has about N30m in his one and only bank account with Union Bank Plc, while the Vice President has a balance of N94m and $900,000.
Buhari’s assets consist of houses in his hometown, Daura, Kano, Kaduna and Abuja as well as his farm in Daura.
The President equally declared his investment in Berger Paints and landed property in Kano and Port Harcourt.
The statement stated that Osinbajo’s assets included houses in VGC and Ikoyi in Lagos, Redemption Camp, Mowe in Ogun State and a mortgaged house in the United Kingdom.
The Vice President also listed some exotic vehicles and shares in a few companies.
The failure of the president to make his assets public has attracted criticisms from members of the public who see it as casting a veil in the face of the war on corruption.
It would be recalled that late President Umaru Yar’Adua on assumption of office in 2007, made public his assets declaration in line with his stand on transparency and respect for the rule of law.
Per Second News gathered from some top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who pleaded for anonymity, that from every indication, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo was too willing to make his asset declaration public but for the body language of President Buhari.
Information pieced together by Per Second News revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari was approached on numerous occasion by close associates in a bid to convince him to declare his assets publicly.
According to Dr Supo Omilani, of the Greater Nigeria group, the sudden turnaround raises more questions than answers. "It becomes clear that the issues it raises can't be resolved."
"What are the value of the president's shares in Berger paints, Union Bank and Skye bank ?
While purchasing the N25 million presidential nomination form at the party’s national secretariat months ago, President Buhari lamented the high cost of the nomination form, but revealed that he procured a bank loan through the assistance of an unnamed bank chairman.
"What has Mr President done between then and now that he now has a balance of N30m, he asked.
It would be recalled that Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN Femi Falana months ago also faulted the decision of President Buhari, to take out a bank loan to purchase the APC's presidential nomination form.
“That action of taking bank loan is indefensible. I have condemned it and political parties should do something about that. If you are obtaining loans for forms, what about elections? Elections cost billions in Nigeria and that should be discouraged,” Mr. Falana said.
-Halima Ogiri
Correction: Only photocopies of actual Code of Conduct Forms, preferably certified, satisfies public declaration.
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