In order to set an example for others, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to publicly disclose their assets.
In an interview with Punch on Sunday, PDP’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said it was insufficient for the President and the Vice President to complete asset disclosure forms and submit them to the Code of Conduct Bureau in order to comply with the law.
However, Ologunagba advised both men to demonstrate to the world that they are unique by taking the example of the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua and publicly disclosing their material and financial worth to Nigerians.
In order to show Nigerians that they are prepared for honest and accountable leadership, he advised them to emulate the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Our laws include measures addressing asset disclosure by public officials; this is a statutory necessity. Recall that Umaru Yar’Adua, a president chosen on the PDP ticket, made a public declaration of his assets. At that level, those are the kinds of leadership qualities demanded.
When asked if the Labour Party would prefer that Tinubu disclose his reported assets, LP National Chairman Julius Abure responded,
Let him have some time to disclose 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?
Festus Keyamo, a former minister of state for labor and employment and the disbanded Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council’s spokesperson, rejected the demand that Tinubu make his assets known to the public.
Public reporting of assets is not required by law, he declared. 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.
