The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Mohammadu Buhari and Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo to openly declare their assets as proof that they are not corrupt and lead Nigeria by example.
Also, the main opposition party asked the newly elected Senate president, Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to make their assets public in others to convince Nigerians that they are a partner in the fight against corruption.
A declaration made on Friday by the party’s deputy national publicity secretary, Diran Odeyemi, said the Code of Conduct Bureau had all the time insisted it could not release information of the president’s property and other top officials without their approval.
Therefore, the party called on all high-ranking political office holders to waive the caveat imposed on the Code of Conduct Bureau and make Nigerians aware of their assets.
The PDP recalled that if former Federation Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, is presently facing prosecution for not declaring his assets in full, other top government representatives should also submit themselves for public scrutiny by publicly stating what they own as assets.
“We are of the opinion that President Mohammadu Buhari, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila should declare openly their assets to allow Nigerians to further see how much wealth they have acquired since joining government,” the party said.
“We believe laying claim to sainthood is easy as President Buhari and others have been doing all along, but Nigerians deserve to see beyond whatever government forces down their throats. By making public declaration of their assets, Nigerians will be able to see better and judge accordingly”
“By making public their assets, Nigerians will see how many heads of cattle have been added by President Buhari had 2019. Blowing hot and cold at the same time is not the hallmark of a leader with clean hands.”
The group advised that if the president and others fail to make their assets publicly declared, additional aspersions would be cast on the current administration’s anti-graft attempts.
“We urge President Buhari and other top government officials to be more coordinated and exhibit transparency not only in fighting graft but in their dealings with Nigerians, because, no matter how fast lies have moved, in a flight, truth will catch up,” PDP concluded.
