The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to follow in the footsteps of the late President Umaru Yar’adua by openly disclosing their assets as a sign of their resolve to set an example for others.
They made this statement on Sunday through Debo Ologunagba, its national publicity secretary.
In a phone interview with The PUNCH, Ologunagba stated that simply filling out asset declaration forms and returning them to the Code of Conduct Bureau would not be sufficient for the President and the Vice President to comply with the law.
Ologunagba challenged both men to demonstrate to the world that they are truly different by following Yar’Adua’s example and publicly revealing their material and financial worth before Nigerians, despite the PDP’s opposition to Tinubu’s designation as the winner of the presidential election on February 25.
He said, “They should follow the path of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to demonstrate to Nigerians their readiness for transparent and accountable leadership. There are provisions in our laws covering asset declarations by public officers; it is a statutory requirement. Recall that Umaru Yar’Adua, a president elected on the platform of the PDP, declared his assets publicly. Those are the kind of leadership traits expected at that level.”
Julius Abure, the LP’s National Chairman, said, “Let’s give him some time to declare his assets. That’s what I think. However, he is required by law to disclose his assets. I feel that he ought to declare it in the open.
After serving as a senator and two terms as governor, he is already a wealthy man with all of his possessions. Are you even certain he will recall all of his possessions? He said
Festus Keyamo, the spokesman for the disbanded APC Presidential Campaign Council, fought back against calls for the President to make a public disclosure of his assets.
Senior Nigerian Advocate Keyamo stated, “Public declaration of assets is not legally required. Public knowledge of this is due. Choices are all that are need. Anyone who feels that doing so is morally required is free to do so. However, that is up to individuals.”
