The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday dared President Mohammadu Buhari, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and leaders of the National Assembly to publicly declare their assets as proof that they were not corrupt.
The party said such open declaration by Buhari and his Vice would convince Nigerians that they have been leading by example, while Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, would by their declaration, convince Nigerians that they were true partners in the fight against corruption.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, in a statement on Friday also faulted the Code of Conduct Bureau for insisting that it could not release details of assets of the President and other top officials without their consent.
He noted that if former Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen, could be prosecuted for not declaring in full his asset, other top government functionaries should also submit themselves to public scrutiny through a public declaration of their assets.
He also wondered why Buhari was quick to direct CCB to release details of his assets in 2015 and not now in 2019 for proper scrutiny to let Nigerians know that he was not corrupt and therefore capable of fighting corruption.
“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.
“We believe laying claim to sainthood is easy as Buhari and others have been doing all along, but Nigerians deserve to see beyond whatever government forces down their throats. By making a public declaration of their assets, Nigerians will be able to see better and judge accordingly.
“By making public their assets known, Nigerians will see how many herds of cattle in 2019 had been added to what Buhari had in 2015. Blowing hot and cold at the same time is not the hallmark of a leader with clean hands,” he said.
Odeyemi warned that if Buhari and others should fail to publicly declare their assets, further aspersions would be cast on the anti-graft efforts of the present administration adding, “We urge Buhari and other top government officials to be more coordinated and exhibit transparency not only in fighting graft but in their dealings with Nigerians.”