This piece is not about former President Goodluck Jonathan, but it is important to focus on him to help us understand our current predicament. In June 2012 when the former president made his infamous “I don’t give a damn” comment during a presidential media chat, I knew immediately that it would define his presidency. As it turned out, it was not only public asset declaration that the former president did not “give a damn” about. He did not “give a damn” about much of what happened under his watch as president of the federal republic.
Mr. Jonathan made other damning revelations during the media chat. He told a bewildered nation that he had gone to late President Umaru Yar’Adua to caution that, “We should not play to the hands of some people” (by openly declaring their assets), adding, “That is a matter of principle and I am not going to declare. It is not the president declaring his asset that will end Boko Haram.”
It is instructive that in 2007, as vice president, Mr Jonathan, after public outcry, declared his asset publicly following the example of his boss, the late President Yar’Adua. In a December 2012 piece titled, “Memo to Doyin Okupe: What is President Jonathan hiding?” I responded to a press conference by Mr. Okupe, then Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, in which he elaborated on what his boss was doing to fight corruption.
“The signing of the Freedom of Information Act into law by President Jonathan in May 2011 represents a watershed in the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria,” Mr. Okupe noted. “This piece of legislation, which had been virtually stalled by successive administrations since 1999, was signed into law by Mr. President to usher Nigeria into the league of countries where transparency in governance is entrenched and citizens are granted unfettered access to information about government activities.”
My response was to remind Mr. Okupe that in July 2011, two months after President Jonathan signed the FoIA, my organisation, the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) wrote to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) requesting the details of President Jonathan’s asset declaration. We were rebuffed by the CCB. Its chairman, Sam Saba, would later say at a public forum that there was nothing in the constitution that said the president had to declare his asset publicly.
I wondered what, for someone purported to be committed to fighting corruption, President Jonathan was hiding considering that he declared his asset, as vice president in 2007, and that in the intervening period (2007-2011), he did not do any other job (constitutionally, he was not allowed to) apart from being vice president, acting president, and president. So what had the president acquired in four years that he did not want Nigerians to know about? It is also important to note that in a June 2012 interview with SaharaTV’s Rudolf Okonkwo, Dr. Reuben Abati, another aide of President Jonathan, had referred Nigerians interested in the president’s asset declaration “to check with the Code of Conduct Bureau office.”
The point I have laboured to make here is that beyond showing complete disinterest in addressing one of Nigeria’s major headache, corruption, Mr. Jonathan also undermined the very constitution he swore to uphold and there is a sense in which President Buhari may have unwittingly borrowed a page from Mr. Jonathan’s playbook. Why do I say this? Here is what the laws of the country say on this issue: Paragraph 3, Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides, among other things, that “the Bureau shall have power to: (a) receive declarations by public officers made under paragraph 12 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution; (b) examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law; (c) retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.
Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 states that, “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is hereby established.” Clearly, the CCB is obligated to make asset declarations “available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.” These terms and conditions are covered under the FoI bill assented to by the Clerk to the National Assembly on May 27, 2011.
Considering his avowed commitment to anti-corruption, I think President Buhari made a false start on the war by not making public his asset the very day he was sworn-in as president. He didn’t need to wait for anybody or group to make the request. He has to redeem himself, and quickly too, because this is an issue that will not go away, not minding the convoluted logic of Mr. Saba and his CCB and the equivocation of Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Two weeks ago, in an interview with the Punch, Mr. Saba said his agency had not commenced the verification of the asset of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo and that the CCB was waiting for the Presidency to tell it when it would be ready to commence the task. “Even if the president’s asset is as huge as the country’s external reserve,” a friend noted, “why should it take so long to verify?” I thought the question was quite amusing if it were not such a serious matter.
Prior to Mr. Saba’s intervention, the Presidency had said that the president would only make his asset public after it had been verified by the CCB. Then came Mr. Adesina’s comment during an interview that the president did not say he would declare his asset publicly. There is a feeling of déjà vu on the issue of public asset declaration. Is Adesina’s position a prelude to what we should expect? Let’s assume, for the purpose of argument, that the president did not say he would declare his asset publicly, could there be a better way to lead by example in the anti-corruption campaign than for the president to publicly declare his worth?
Of course, I know the worth of public asset declaration or asset declaration in Nigeria having served, about a decade ago, as head of the crime prevention unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Trust is, therefore, very important for President Buhari to win the war on corruption.
If the president’s minders can’t tell him, the truth is that there is simmering disquiet, even among staunch Buharists, over the issue of his public asset declaration. And the sooner he resolves it in accordance with popular expectation, the better for the mounting “wind of change.”
Chief nutritionist in the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr. Regina Adie has attributed the series of malnutrition that has been devastating Nigeria for a long time to poverty, ignorance, improper dieting as well as other factors. The nutritionist, who conducted a team of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) functionaries and media chiefs round the special ward for the management of malnourished children in the Calabar general hospital on Thursday, said that malnourishment is rampant in Nigeria also because of wide spread lack of education in that direction. The UNICEF functionaries, including its Communication specialist, Geoffrey Njoku and the Coordinator of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Mr. Chido Onuma, as well as publishers of Online media and senior correspondents of the major newspapers, television and radio stations across the country were in Calabar for a two-day dialogue on children malnutrition and its effect on the socio-economy of the country. Dr. Adie said that Cross River state has taken several positive measures to contain the growing cases of malnutrition, adding that from an average of 42 cases, the cases are being reduced and would soon hit zero point. One of such measures, she said, is the investment in regular screening of mothers and the new born babies through the state’s maternal and new born child health programme, adding that the state has been able to identify and control the rate of malnutrition in children through such exercise. “As its contribution to eradicating this silent health crisis in children, Cross River State government has been settling all the medical bills and feeding of the patients, including their mothers.” She disclosed that the state government has also embarked on procurement of F75 and F100 food supplements to support the nutritional needs of the affected children at the cost which the state government has been bearing. The UNICEF Communication Specialist, Mr. Njoku thanked Dr. Adie and the state government for the proactive action towards lessening the effect of malnutrition in the state, even as he called on the media practitioners to redouble their effort in the campaign against malnutrition which he said has a long-term capacity to retard the socio-economic growth of the country. He also appealed to donor agencies across the world to continue to support the international children agency to enable it tackle the silent health crisis. [myad]
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched global storytelling contest, tagged Voices2Paris, to amplify climate coverage on the run up to Paris summit. The competition is part of the UNDP’s contribution to raising public awareness on the negative impacts of climate change as well as on the opportunities and solutions seen in actions by individuals and governments across vulnerable developing countries worldwide. A statement from UNDP today said that the competition is opened to Journalists of between 25 and 35 years old, from developing countries who are already engaged in public writing and want to contribute towards greater public awareness on climate change. It said that the best stories would be published every day from November 2nd to 29th on UNDP and partners’ sites. “The authors of the top two prize winning stories will be invited to attend and cover the COP21 UN climate summit in Paris this December. “Stories can be submitted in English or in Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish (with an English translation), on a rolling basis until October 11th, 2015.” The statement said that the guidelines to participate are available on UNDP Geneva website. [myad]
A Northern youth group, going by the name, Arewa Youth Parliament (AYP) has condemned Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole for launching what it called media propaganda against the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan which it said is uncalled for and unsuitable in this cooling off period. In a statement today, signed by the group’s Kaduna state chairman, Ibrahim Garba Rigachikun and secretary, Barrister Faith Joshua, AYP said that this should be the period when Nigerians expect a string of developmental projects as promised them by All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 electioneering campaigns and not for pointing accusing finger. The group accused governor Oshiomhole of turning himself into an emergency critic of the Jonathan administration, presenting himself as if he is still in campaign mood, “or probably the bug of labour unionism when he held sway as NLC President. This is quite worrisome. “Now, he has become a professional attacker of the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is supposed to have been peacefully resting after serving the nation to the best of his ability. “To deny the former President the peace that comes with retirement is Oshiomhole’s political misadventure. “Governor Oshiomhole first started with a Tale by Moonlight, when he claimed that a certain US official told him that the officials of the Jonathan administration were involved in large scale financial scandals. Few days later, a rebuttal by the US officials sent Governor Oshiomhole’s tale to the dustbin of history. “Not done with that misadventure, the Governor proceeded to grant an interview to a weekend newspaper, where he said Nigerians would stone former President Jonathan if they knew how much his administration wronged them. Again, the man wanted to score cheap political gains by using the media to rewrite history on the basis of propaganda.” The group said that it is aware that the Governor is not the official spokesman of the new APC Federal Government and asked him to allow those whose duty it is, including Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, to so to do their jobs. “We also advise him to switch from the campaign propaganda mood and emergency radicalism to do the needful to the people of Edo State. “We hoped the season of propaganda would have been over after May 29th and what mattered would be development of infrastructure, only for the Governor to attempt to rewrite history, before our very eyes. “As a group of non-partisan young men, we believe the nation should move forward, away from unprogressive lamentations and hauling of unfounded allegations.” [myad]
At last, President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), signaling the move to announcing the long-awaited ministerial list, who will form the federal cabinet.
A statement just coming from the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that the lucky one for the SGF is Engineer Babachir David Lawal even as Alhaji Abba Kyari has been appointed Chief of Staff to the President.
The new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, according to the statement, hails from Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State and graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited as well as Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990. He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.
The statement said also that Alhaji Abba Kyari, the new Chief of Staff to the President, holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick in Law and Sociology. He has worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years.
Other appointments announced today in the statement are Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) as Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi as Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service; Senator Ita S.J. Enang as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)
The statement said that all the appointments are with effect from today, August 27, 2015.
It also gave a run-down on thee new Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Ali who it said holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Criminology. He was military administrator of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998.
It said also that the new Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr. Abeshi hails from Nasarawa State. He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller. His educational qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration. [myad]
Communication Specialist of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria, Mr Geoffrey Njoku (2nd from right), today, August 27, led 1st from right: Mr. Chijama Ogbu, Publisher of The Rainbow online; third from right, Yusuf Ozi-Usman, Editor-In-Chief/CEO of Greenbarge Reporters; Mr. Isaac Ummuna, Publisher of News Express: Mr. Chido Onuma, Coordinator of African Centre for Media and Information Literacy: Mr. I. Vincent, a senior Correspondent of The Nation newspaper and others, to the General Hospital, Calabar, state capital of Cross River State, as part of the two-day workshop for media chief executives on child malnutrition. They were at the special ward in the hospital where malnourished children are being managed. [myad]
Authorities of the Lagos state have shut down no fewer than 22 church premises across the city following series of complaints over noisy worship even as they insisted that the churches would have to cough out N50,000 each and a promise to stop the noisy worship before they were re-opened.
The chaotic megacity’s environmental protection department of the state said that it sealed off the 22 premises after receiving dozens of calls a day.
Neighbors of one church — Jesus Our Lord Divine Catholic Prayer Ministry — said they were constantly disturbed by a congregation of mainly pregnant women, young mothers and their children.
“On my phone alone, I get 20 SMS on a daily basis,” said Adebola Shabi, head of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.
“In the next five years, if there is no stringent policy on the siting of religious houses, there will be problem.”
Constant noise from the thumping beats of loud music, the beep of car horns and the noise of generator engines is the soundtrack to Lagos life and is seen by many as part of its charm.
But residents are complaining in unprecedented numbers that they can barely hear themselves think among the churches and mosques where giant loudspeakers pump out religious messages and music.
Officials receive around 50 telephone calls and 20 text messages a day complaining about noise, mostly from churches, the New Telegraph said.
“With the enforcement today, we would have sealed about 55 premises because the last enforcement we carried out, we shut 33 premises,” Shabi said, adding: “I gave approval for closure of 22 premises today, making 55.”
Religion is big business in Lagos, a city of around 20 million which has seen more than 6,000 traditional and alternative places of worship spring up in recent years, according to the authorities. [myad]
Nigeria men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, beat Mozambique 83-47 to pick a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Nations Championship holding in Tunisia.
The match, which ended after 8pm yesterday, saw the Tigers winning all the quarters as the battle for a place at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics continues. Nigeria won the first quarter 29-11 before both sides slowed down the pace in the following quarter which ended 12-8. The third quarter was won at 20-12 before the Nigerians finally confirmed their dominance with the last quarter result at 22-11.
The Tigers are now billed to play Gabon in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Gabon had stunned Cape Verde 77-67 to advance. Therence Mayimba came off the bench to lead the Gabonese with a team-best 17 points, while Cape Verde’s Mario Correia finished with a game-high 23 points.
In the match against Mozambique, Al-Farouq Aminu led scoring on the Nigeria side hitting 14 points. Matos of Mozambique also shot 14 points. Lawal grabbed 12 rebounds for Nigeria as the best board player of the night in the combined roster while Umeh had 4 assists.
Nigeria shook off their loss to Tunisia on Sunday to win the Wednesday game. [myad]
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has declared 57 Nigerian universities illegal and eight others are undergoing investigations or court actions even as it warned that anybody who obtain degree or certificate from such institutions would be doing so at his or her risk.
In the recent NUC’s weekly bulletin, the Executive secretary of the Commission, Julius Okojie also warned that anybody coming out of these universities and colleges will not be recognized for the purpose of NYSC, employment and further studies.”
The full list: 1. University of Accountancy and Management Studies, operating anywhere in Nigeria. 2. Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology Nkpor, Anambra State or any of its campuses. 3. University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos or any of its other campuses. 4. University of applied Sciences and Management Port Novo, Republic of Benin or any of its other campuses in Nigeria. 5. Blacksmith University, Awka or any of its campuses. 6. Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana or any of its other campuses in Nigeria. 7. Royal University Izhia, P.O. Box 800, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State or any of its other campuses. 8. Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi State or any of its other campuses. 9. Sunday Adokpela University, Otada Adoka, Otukpo, Benue State or any of its other campuses. 10. United Christian University, Macotis Campus, Imo State or any of its other campuses. 11. United Nigeria University College, Okija, Anambra State or any of its other campuses. 12. Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue State or any of its other campuses. 13. UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers State or any of its other campuses. 14. Saint Augustine’s University of Technology, Jos Plateau State or any of its other campuses. 15. The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 16. Columbus University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria. 17. Tiu International University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria. 18. Pebbles University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria. 19. London External Studies UK operating anywhere in Nigeria. 20. Pilgrims University operating anywhere in Nigeria. 21. Lobi Business School Makurdi, Benue State or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 22. West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria. 23. Bolta University College Aba or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 24. JBC Seminary Inc. (Wukari Jubilee University) Kaduna Illegal Campus. 25. Westlan University, Esie, Kwara State or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 26. St. Andrews University College, Abuja or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 27. EC- Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre. 28. Atlas University, Ikot Udoso Uko, Uyo Akwa Ibom State or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 29. Concept College/University (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 30. Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 31. Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 32. Acada University, Akinlalu, Oyo State or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 33. Fifom University, Mbaise, Imo State or any of its campuses in Nigeria. 34. Houdegbe North American University Campuses In Nigeria. 35. Atlantic International University, Okija, Anambra State. 36. Open International University, Akure. 37. Middle Belt University (North Central University), Otukpo. 38. Leadway University, Ugheli, Delta State. 39. Metro University, Dutse/Bwari, Abuja. 40. Southend University, Ngwuro Egeru (Afam) Ndoki, Rivers State. 41. Olympic University, Nsukka, Enugu State. 42. Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja. 43. Temple University. 44. Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria. 45. National University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State. 46. University of Accountability and Management Studies, Mowe, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and its Annex at 41, Ikorodu Road Lagos. 47. University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria. 48. Cape Cost University, Ghana, operating anywhere inNigeria. 49. African University Cooperative Development (AUCD), Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria. 50. Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre. 51. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos. 52. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Gboko Campus). 53. Career Light Resources Centre, Jos. 54. University of West Africa, kwali-Abuja, FCT. 55. Coastal University, Iba-Oku, Akwa-Ibom State. 56. Kaduna Business School, Kaduna. 57. Royal University of Theology, Minna, Niger Delta.
The eight other universities that are currently undergoing investigations and court actions whose proprietors would be prosecuted and recovery of illegal fees and charges on subscribers are: 1. National University of Nigeria, Keffi, Nasarawa state. 2. North Central University, Otukpo, Benue State. 3. Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University, Enugu. 4. Richmond Open University, Arochukwu, Abia State. 5. West Coast University, Umuahia. 6. Saint Clements University, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State. 7. Volta University College, Aba, Abia State. 8. Illegal Satellite Campuses of Ambrose Ali University. [myad]
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah, today, made a brief appearance at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bishop Kukah, who was confronted by newsmen shortly after the brief meeting with the President, dodged the question as to what he discussed with the President and instead reminded them that he was rushing to catch his fight back to Sokoto.
Kukah, simply told journalists: “I have a plane to catch by 12:30pm.
Though details of the brief meeting were hidden from the prying eyes of the news men, it was learnt that it might not be unconnected with the President’s determination to go ahead with probe of the past leaders.
Bishop Kukah is a member of the National Peace Committee which members had earlier this month, visited the President. [myad]
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Does President Buhari Give A Damn About Asset Declaration? By Chido Onumah
This piece is not about former President Goodluck Jonathan, but it is important to focus on him to help us understand our current predicament. In June 2012 when the former president made his infamous “I don’t give a damn” comment during a presidential media chat, I knew immediately that it would define his presidency. As it turned out, it was not only public asset declaration that the former president did not “give a damn” about. He did not “give a damn” about much of what happened under his watch as president of the federal republic.
Mr. Jonathan made other damning revelations during the media chat. He told a bewildered nation that he had gone to late President Umaru Yar’Adua to caution that, “We should not play to the hands of some people” (by openly declaring their assets), adding, “That is a matter of principle and I am not going to declare. It is not the president declaring his asset that will end Boko Haram.”
It is instructive that in 2007, as vice president, Mr Jonathan, after public outcry, declared his asset publicly following the example of his boss, the late President Yar’Adua. In a December 2012 piece titled, “Memo to Doyin Okupe: What is President Jonathan hiding?” I responded to a press conference by Mr. Okupe, then Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, in which he elaborated on what his boss was doing to fight corruption.
“The signing of the Freedom of Information Act into law by President Jonathan in May 2011 represents a watershed in the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria,” Mr. Okupe noted. “This piece of legislation, which had been virtually stalled by successive administrations since 1999, was signed into law by Mr. President to usher Nigeria into the league of countries where transparency in governance is entrenched and citizens are granted unfettered access to information about government activities.”
My response was to remind Mr. Okupe that in July 2011, two months after President Jonathan signed the FoIA, my organisation, the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) wrote to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) requesting the details of President Jonathan’s asset declaration. We were rebuffed by the CCB. Its chairman, Sam Saba, would later say at a public forum that there was nothing in the constitution that said the president had to declare his asset publicly.
I wondered what, for someone purported to be committed to fighting corruption, President Jonathan was hiding considering that he declared his asset, as vice president in 2007, and that in the intervening period (2007-2011), he did not do any other job (constitutionally, he was not allowed to) apart from being vice president, acting president, and president. So what had the president acquired in four years that he did not want Nigerians to know about? It is also important to note that in a June 2012 interview with SaharaTV’s Rudolf Okonkwo, Dr. Reuben Abati, another aide of President Jonathan, had referred Nigerians interested in the president’s asset declaration “to check with the Code of Conduct Bureau office.”
The point I have laboured to make here is that beyond showing complete disinterest in addressing one of Nigeria’s major headache, corruption, Mr. Jonathan also undermined the very constitution he swore to uphold and there is a sense in which President Buhari may have unwittingly borrowed a page from Mr. Jonathan’s playbook. Why do I say this? Here is what the laws of the country say on this issue: Paragraph 3, Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides, among other things, that “the Bureau shall have power to: (a) receive declarations by public officers made under paragraph 12 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution; (b) examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law; (c) retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.
Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 states that, “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is hereby established.” Clearly, the CCB is obligated to make asset declarations “available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.” These terms and conditions are covered under the FoI bill assented to by the Clerk to the National Assembly on May 27, 2011.
Considering his avowed commitment to anti-corruption, I think President Buhari made a false start on the war by not making public his asset the very day he was sworn-in as president. He didn’t need to wait for anybody or group to make the request. He has to redeem himself, and quickly too, because this is an issue that will not go away, not minding the convoluted logic of Mr. Saba and his CCB and the equivocation of Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Two weeks ago, in an interview with the Punch, Mr. Saba said his agency had not commenced the verification of the asset of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo and that the CCB was waiting for the Presidency to tell it when it would be ready to commence the task. “Even if the president’s asset is as huge as the country’s external reserve,” a friend noted, “why should it take so long to verify?” I thought the question was quite amusing if it were not such a serious matter.
Prior to Mr. Saba’s intervention, the Presidency had said that the president would only make his asset public after it had been verified by the CCB. Then came Mr. Adesina’s comment during an interview that the president did not say he would declare his asset publicly. There is a feeling of déjà vu on the issue of public asset declaration. Is Adesina’s position a prelude to what we should expect? Let’s assume, for the purpose of argument, that the president did not say he would declare his asset publicly, could there be a better way to lead by example in the anti-corruption campaign than for the president to publicly declare his worth?
Of course, I know the worth of public asset declaration or asset declaration in Nigeria having served, about a decade ago, as head of the crime prevention unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Trust is, therefore, very important for President Buhari to win the war on corruption.
If the president’s minders can’t tell him, the truth is that there is simmering disquiet, even among staunch Buharists, over the issue of his public asset declaration. And the sooner he resolves it in accordance with popular expectation, the better for the mounting “wind of change.”
conumah@hotmail.com; Follow me on Twitter @conumah. [myad]