FOLLOWING the assets declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbayo recently, there have been mixed reactions from different quarters and cross section of the public. Some are of the opinion that it is laudable, some raised eye brow to the glaring inconsistencies, and the major opposition party described it as “a deceptive window-dressing to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians”.
Of course there are inconsistencies in the declaration and those inconsistencies must be clarified. Without accusing the president, if at December last year, declared that he had only N1 million in his account, and how has N30 million in the same account by September, that needs to be clarified and reconciled.
If at November it was widely acclaimed that the man was not having a house in Abuja at the time he was contesting for election, being in rented apartment now that the report says he has a house in Abuja should be explained. Needless to mention his 151 cows now 250 and the time frame of declaration. These few discrepancies should be made consistent otherwise, it will open a new vista for questions and assumptions. And it is costly to leave people to assume.
Going by what he declared and the position he occupied he’s lived an austere life. So let us ask ourselves, the people who have been head of state before him, who own village ranches, estates how did they acquire. It? If he occupying the same position had declared what he has in million what about those who live profligate life, that makes them suspects.
Also those who are presently occupying public office especially newly elected APC governors should naturally toe the lead of the president and perhaps not only APC governors but it should begin from them. But would they do so?
Another thing is that public servant who got into public office and who have a lot to show before they got into public office will also need to be questioned. For example if you have over been in civil society before occupying public office, and properties you have before occupying such office do not suggest you are living within your incomes should be subjected to scrutiny.
More importantly, we should know the worth of all governors, what do they worth before ascending into office and how much they upon their exit. This will ensure transparency.
It is expected that those championed the cause of change, the disciples of change should come forward to declare their worth since the agent of change has done so. It wouldn’t be out of line if all the governors make their assets public. The disclosure from the angle of Mr. President needs to trickle down to every public office holders. By that we can hold them accountable. So that our situation won’t be like a wife after 4 or 8 years of marriage discovered the husband has a daughter in Sokoto and a son in Ibadan.
There are gigantic buildings everywhere owned by asides, commissioner, local government chairmen across the 36 states of the federation. The asset declaration has opened a new chapter where the public can engage the government and hold leadership accountable. You cannot live beyond your income. If somebody who was a Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, been in charge of NNPC, who for 20 months in charge of the federation as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also occupied several positions in the military is worth this much as it were we would literally faint if some local government chairmen should declare their worth. How did they get it? 80 leaves note book won’t probably be enough to contain the list of their properties. To them what the president and vice president have are ‘change’ or ‘jara’.
Why is it so? The answers is simple the system favours them. What we have is an ineffectual tax paying system. In the U.S when you acquire a new property a Lamborgini for instance IRS will visit and tells you what you pay as tax is not commensurate with your current property. And by the time IRS slams you with tax you will drive it to their office and pack it there. The system is on anto-pilot, it knows what to do, it doesn’t need the president galvanising them into action. Same goes for anti-corruption agencies. Any time there is a probe of an individual, we ask who is behind it? FIRS, ICPC, EFCC and other like agencies should be functional they should be seen like demi-god and non-partial. Most of the time we see thug – like fellows invading shops in the name of tax but the big man with fleets of cars is spared.
Another area of reform is the judiciary. There has been an agreement that we need to separate the Attorney General from the Minister of Justice. The Attorney General ought to be career civil servant while the Minister of Justice can be a politician. When you have the chief prosecutor, a politician, then you have the Minister of Justice a politician there will be ambiguities and complications in process of law and adjudication. But more critical is that institutions must be strengthened. If they are for instance, the fight against corruption would not be seen as selective. A public officer was charged in Nigeria with 91 counts charge and was discharged and acquitted the same man left the shore of the country for London and was incarcerated in the cooler for 15 years on 15 counts charge. So to ensure transparency and impunity we need reforms in our institutions.
If laws were to the followed, public officers are to be declaring assets yearly according to the Code of Conduct Bureau not only before assuming office.
In order to ensure accountability and transparency everybody should start declaring assets especially the governors who are the frontliners of change now that the president has set the precedence.
President Buhari and his vice, Prof. Osinbajo
