Nigerian Governors Vow Not To Declare Assets Publicly

Following the public declaration assets by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo , some governors have said they would not follow the step of the president in declaring their assets publicly.

Cross section of Nigerian Governors

According to a report by Vanguard newspaper, governors; Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) Rochas Okorocha , Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Simon Lalong (Plateau) Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) including those belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have failed to confirm if they would declare their assests.

Only governor Abubakar of Jigawa state promised to follow the president and vice president’s steps.

READ ALSO: Asset Declaration: President Buhari Under Fire From Popular Lawyer

Speaking with the newspaper, Ajimobi’s spokesperson, Mr. Gbade Ojo, said: “Declaration of assets is a constitutional matter that all civil servants must do. The Code of Conduct Act makes it mandatory for all civil servants to do so. But the Act does not make it compulsory that it is done publicly.

“In 2011, when Governor Abiola Ajimobi was sworn in as the governor of the state, he declared his assets and since he is a re-elected governor, he doesn’t have to do it again. The media can go through the Code of Conduct Bureau to access it.

“As for President Buhari and his Vice, Professor  Osinbajo, they are newly elected. So, that is why they have done it as required by the constitution.

“As for me, I have also declared my assets but not publicly and since there is Freedom of Information Act, the media can go and access it to know whether what I have declared is correct or not.”

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Sam Onwuemeodo said: “I will need to confer with the Governor before making a categorical statement on the issue. I am not aware that any state governor has, so far, declared his assets openly. Moreover, I do not know of any law of this land, which insists that governors must openly declare their assets.”

Kaduna state governor however said he would declare his assets after the determination of a case of defamation  at Kaduna High Court, against a national daily which published a story claiming that he had declared N90 billion and 40 mansions with the Code of Conduct Bureau.

READ ALSO: PDP Blasts Buhari, Osinbajo Over Asset Declaration

“It is not proper to make issues out of something that is already in Court. I am sure that you know the consequences of that. But, I can assure you that the governor is not afraid to declare his assets publicly when the case would have been done with,” the governors media aide was quoted.

Recently, anti-corruption group, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (COAL) asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to publicly declare his assets just as President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo did.

The post Nigerian Governors Vow Not To Declare Assets Publicly appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.