LAGOS—Aides of President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday,
explained why the president did not declare his assets publicly. They said he
will make his assets known to Nigerians within the first 100 days of his stay
in power in line with his assertions before the election.
Meanwhile, there were mixed reactions, yesterday, on the
report that the president and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had submitted their
assets declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau without immediately making
them public.
A civil rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project, SERAP, argued that it was imperative for the duo to
make public their assets. It said the action will indicate “their desire and
commitment to ending corruption in the country.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on its part, said it
would allow Buhari to settle down for governance before taking him to task on
his campaign promises.
However, some notable Nigerians disagreed over call for the
public declaration of assets by the president and his vice president.
Among those who expressed divergent views were
constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN; Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN;
rights crusader, Mr Femi Falana, SAN; Mr Kayode Ajulo; Second Republic
lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed and rights activist, Mr Mohammed Fawehinmi.
A close associate of the president, however, debunked
criticisms on the issue saying, yesterday, that the president still has 97 days
within which to make his assets public as he promised during the campaigns.
President Buhari had in a document on his plan of action
within the first 100 days of assumption of office as president promised to make
his assets declaration public and influence his appointees to do the same.
“In the document the president said what he would do within
the first 100 days and among them was that he would declare his assets publicly
in the first 100 days. How many hours has he been in office? How many days
after his inauguration?
“I think that the president should be given the benefit of
the doubt. It is only three days since he came to office. Does he not deserve
the benefit of the balance of the 96 remaining days? I think he deserves
commendations”, the source close to the president said on the basis of
anonymity.
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