Posted on: 11:30 Sat, 31 Oct 2015



President Muhammadu Buhari’s
ministers-designate are unwilling to
declare their assets publicly,Saturday
PUNCH has learnt.

Some of the ministers-designate said
they were only bound by the
constitution to declare their assets to
the Code of Conduct Bureau and not
publicly.

Buhari and the Vice-President, Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo, have declared their
assets publicly, but the Presidency
recently said it would not compel
ministers to do the same.

Many of the ministers-designate
insisted that they did not have to do
more than is required by the
constitution, irrespective of Buhari
and Osinbajo’s actions. Meanwhile,
only a few of Buhari’s ministers-
designate are willing to emulate him
and Osinbajo.

One of the ministers-designate, Mr.
Ibrahim Jibril, from Nasarawa State,
said he was under no obligation to
declare his assets publicly when
assigned portfolio.

Jibril, who spoke through his media
aide, Mr. Ibrahim Umar, said, “It is
not necessary to emulate Buhari and
Osinbajo.”

After several telephone calls to get
the view of the minister-designate
from Niger State, Abubakar Bawa
Bwari, on the issue were not
answered, our correspondent sent
him a text message, which he also
did not reply.

Later, Bwari however answered a
subsequent call that was placed on
his number, saying, “I got your text,
and I’m in a meeting right now.
Thank you.”

The minister-designate from Oyo
State, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, was also
noncommittal, saying the
constitution does not make it
compulsory.

The minister-designate from Ondo
State, Prof. Cladius Daramola,
declined to comment on whether he
would declare his assets publicly,
saying he had no assets to declare.

Daramola said, “I have no comment.
I don’t have assets; I am a teacher
and my children are my only assets.”

Daramola’s counterpart from Cross
River State, Usani Uguru Usani, also
declined to comment on the issue of
public declaration of assets.
“Until I take office, I will not speak
to the press,” he said.

Prof. Isaac Adewole, a nominee from
Osun State, expressed his readiness
to declare his assets publicly if
required to do so.

Efforts to speak with Chief Audu
Ogbe, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed and Mr. James Ocholi
were not successful as they neither
responded to calls nor text messages
sent to their mobile telephone lines.

When one of our correspondents
spoke to Mr. Hakeem Bello, the
media adviser to Fashola, he said he
did not know his principal’s plan but
would find out if he was able to
reach him later.

However, other sources close to
Fashola toldSaturday PUNCHthat the
former Lagos State governor would
not declare his asset publicly to
avoid controversy that might stem
from the action.

The nominee from Edo State, Dr.
Osagie Ehanire, declined to comment
on the issue in a telephone
conversation with one of our
correspondents on Thursday.

However, the minister-designate
from Ogun State, Mrs. Kemi
Adeosun, also expressed readiness to
declare her assets publicly.

She responded with “of course” when
our correspondent sent her a text
message to get her view on the issue.

Mr. Solomon Dalung from Plateau
State said he would declare his assets
soon. He toldSaturday PUNCHthat he
had already collected his assets
declaration form, saying “Very soon.
I have collected the form.”

On whether minister-designate from
Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi,
will declare his assets publicly if
confirmed as a minister, the APC
Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr.
Chris Finebone, described the
decision as personal.