Aftermath of Assets Declaration : ‘Super Rich’ APC Governors Join PDP’s Wike, Dump Buhari’s Example

.The stinkingly rich governor elected under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC have bluntly refused to the toe the part of honour and good example laid down by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo by publicly declaring their assets, but rather emulate the Rivers State governor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Inyesome Wike who had also refused to declare his assets publicly.

According to Punch Newspaper, the governors said they were not compelled by any law to publicly declare their assets, either properties or cash, hence, they will not follow the Buhari, Osinbajo examples.

President Muhammadu Buhari and VP Yemi Osinbajo had few week ago declared their assets publicly. The president, following the doubts expressed by some staunch critics also declared that he had successfully declared his assets four times since 1974. He therefore, challenged the media to make further investigation on his declares assets.

“I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up in the corridor – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council – and officials of the Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.”“So right now, all heads of state and government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries will have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.” Buhari said

The President said it was a constitutional requirement that public officers declare their assets.

He said, “In Nigeria, it is a constitutional issue and that is why I am blaming you gentlemen of the press. If you really want to do investigative journalism, you don’t have to worry me at this stage; I have declared my assets four times.“When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of State and now as a President, I also declared.“I have declared my assets and all that I have four times, and you (the media) have the right to go and demand for my declaration. Instead, I am being harassed.”

On the contrary, the APC governors, who are also singers of the CHANGE MANTRA have refused to follow the President in the drive to lay good precedence for Change, which they claim to have brought to the Nigeria polity by refusing to declare their assets publicly. They claim what is constitutional according to the 1999 constitution is assets declaration and not the public declaration of assets.

Could one conclude that the governors are scared to declare their assets over fear of public backlash as most of them are stupendously rich having acquired their wealth from the public offices?

What is the different between the APC governors and the Peoples Democratic’s, Inyesom Wike who had also refused to publicly declare his assets, statting the the constitution does not mandate him to do so?

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Photo Source: News Rescue

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