It has been observed that when it comes to keeping to promises, especially those made by politicians during electioneering, individuals tend to choose their own terms and timing. This seems to be the case with President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, when the duo allegedly refused to release copies of their assets declaration forms to the media as they promised during campaigns.
Rather, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Saturday, May 30, 2015 said that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have declared their assets in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The statement said that the Code of Conduct Bureau had on Friday, May 29, acknowledged the submission of the two leaders’ assets declaration forms. The forms, the statement said, were submitted separately on May 28 and signed for by the organisation’s Chairman, Sam Saba. It said: “President Buhari’s Declarant ID was given as: ‘President: 000001/2015′.
Buhari had insinuated that despite being a retired General and former Head of State, he could not afford N24 million to purchase the presidential intent form from the All Progressives Congress (APC). He told his supporters then that he had put his bank manager on notice for loan in case he was not able to source the money.
Since he was overthrown in 1985, Buhari had gained reputation as a honest and frugal individual who is almost incorruptible and able to withstand pressures of office. He was Minister of Petroleum, Military Administrator of a state, Head of State and later Chairman of the multi-billion Presidential Task Force on Petroleum during the dark days of General Sani Abacha.
However, shortly after being sworn in, there were stories in the media alleging that Buhari owns a multi-billion naira mansion in high brow Asokoro area of Abuja currently leased to the embassy of a foreign country. This development that has become a subject of debate by Nigerians at home and Diaspora, even when analysts expected the president to come out and clear the air over allegations. The Presidency has so far failed to react to the story.
Economic Confidential checks also revealed there were also photographs of President Mohammed Buhari’s wife wearing a multi-million wristwatch on his inauguration, and also that the President’s daughter has equally been pictured engaging in a spending spree in high brow malls both in Nigeria and abroad.
Political analysts believe that since the President had made a solemn promise to the Nigerian people before the election that he will not only make his assets public but that he will equally encourage those working with him to do the same as a way of encouraging accountability, probity and transparency. By dithering on this promise, Mr. President has breached his promise to the Nigerian people.
Late President Umar Yar’Adua had set a precedent of public declaration of assets. Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the firebrand Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), publicly declared his assets on February 21, 2012 following his appointment by the former President Goodluck Jonathan. It is, therefore, morally good for Buhari to do the same, or it will amount to misrepresentation.
Reacting to this issue, a seasoned lawyer and an expert on election petition matters, Barrister Kabir Akingbolu, told Economic Confidential that, since the president promised to publicly declare his assets after election, he should just go ahead without ado. The fact that the president has submitted his assets declaration form to Code of Conduct Bureau does not in any way vindicate him from his bond to Nigerians. His words; “the issue at stake is the matter of morality not legality, if a man whom people believe in so much and trusted him with their mandate is beginning to go in this direction, then it is a big disappointment to Nigerians. It was in public domain that he had one house in Daura and another one in Kaduna only for this perception to assume a different dimension few days after his inauguration, morally speaking, this is unacceptable”.
Akingbolu insisted he does not see anything wrong for the president to come out and clear the air concerning stories in the media over the allege multi – billion naira mansion he allegedly owns in Asokoro currently on lease to a foreign embassy according to report. “As far as I am concern, this is a slap on the face of Nigerians. Or could it be that the president has choose to join the bandwagon? This among others issues is what the president is supposed to have addressed in order for him to maintain his status before Nigerians as the man who has zero tolerance for corruption as stated in his manifesto before the last general elections”.
Also while responding to Shehu’s statement, the Convener of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD) Inibehe Effiong said; “It is pertinent to state clearly that there is no constitutional or legal obligation on President Buhari, his vice or any other public officer to disclose or declare their assets to the public. Section 140 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) provides that the president shall not begin to perform the functions of his office until he subscribes to the oath of office and allegiance, and declares his assets. The implication is that declaration of assets is not only a condition precedent to the performance of constitutional functions by elected public officers but a mandatory requirement”.
For him, “it is therefore utterly mischievous for Mr. Garba Shehu to have said in the press statement that by declaring his assets, the president has fulfilled his campaign promise to Nigerians. The truth of the matter is that Buhari had no choice than to declare his assets as required of him by the Constitution. He didn’t do anyone any favour by doing so. In the real sense, his promise was that he will declare his assets publicly”.
Effiong disclosed that as a passionate supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari who gave his modest support to his candidacy, this point is essential because the undying support given to Buhari by us ”the collective children of anger” which resulted in his historic victory at the March 28, 2015 presidential election was conditional, any attempt by the president not keep to his bond will amount to deception. And this is what Nigerians became tired of before considering President Buhari as the man who can liberate Nigerians from the snare of the fowlers.
“I therefore, call on President Buhari to rise above any primordial consideration that may hamper the fulfilment of his campaign promises. The President has no choice but to abide by his oath of office. Buhari should publish his assets in the media without further delay. Nigerians will be more critical of his administration than that of his predecessor. The equitable and jurisprudential concept of promissory estoppels as espoused for several decades implies that failure to keep to a promise made by one person to another which alters the position of the other person is actionable. Since the remedy for Nigerians in this instance lies not in the court, Buhari should be prepared for whatever backlash, opprobrium and lacerations that may be occasioned by this infidelity to his electoral promise. We have had enough of deceits and irresponsible governance in this country, it is time for change, so let the change begin” he fumed.
On his part, a Professor of Political Science in one of the federal universities who don’t want his name mentioned told Economic Confidential that “though the president may have complied with the law by submitting his assets declaration forms to Code of Conduct Bureau, that has nothing to do with the promise he made to Nigerians on this issue. As a matter of fact, what makes a real man is his ability to keep to his words, and for the president who anchored his campaign on change, I want to believe that he should come out and do what he promised his followers. Or could this be the foundation of change we are talking about? You can’t have a change from a corrupt government to a better one when the convener is not transparent”.
For the university scholar, the belief in some quarters that there is no morality in politics is not substantial. “We have people in the world that stood for truth when it comes to politics and their names have gone down into the chronicle of heroes. If only we want this country to move ahead, we must learn to put sentiments aside and put the interest of the country before us, and that is the only way we can have the change we desire. If a president who said he could not afford the money to buy an intent form from his party is now alleged to have a multi-million naira house, then he should come out and clear himself on the issue or else, his reputation as someone who has zero tolerance for corruption will be at stake.”
