Why Buhari Should Make His Asset Declaration Form Public

Abdul Mahmud/

No law compels me to make public asset declaration forms – Buhari

We- Nigerians- are aware of the law; but still you owe us the moral duty to make your asset declaration forms public, if your assets weren’t ill-gotten!

Dear General Muhammadu Buhari, what are you really hiding? I will return to this question later.

You promised us that you’d make your asset declaration forms public. We are in the 5th year of your presidency, please, do it; you won’t be the first President or Head of State to do it!

General Murtala Muhammed did it in 1975 when there was no law that compelled him to declare his asset or even make his asset declaration public. He declared his small house in Kano as his ONLY asset.

When Prof Ohonbamu challenged his declaration and claimed Murtala owned more property than he had claimed, General Muhammed headed to court claiming Ohonbamu libeled him. Ohonbamu was never harassed by the secret police.

In fact, Prof Ohonbamu retracted his claim and apologized to General Muhammed shortly before his death in 1976. Gen Muhammed’s suit died naturally in 1976 when Murtala and Ohonbamu died before suit was heard- “Actio personalis moritur cum persona”

President Yar’Adua made public his asset declaration in 2007. A few governors have also done same. Notably, Governor Kayode Fayemi. Recently, Governor Makinde did same- made public his asset declaration.
Even a few MDAs heads like Odinkalu did same!

So, what are you hiding? If you got the N4b block of 6 duplexes on Udo Udoma Street, Asokoro, honestly during Abacha’s reign, make public your asset declaration forms, so we know you declared it.

Is it the landed property you publicly claimed that you cannot trace in Port Harcourt, Rivers state? How many assets are you hiding, whose sources you are ashamed of owning in public?

General, Sir, I’ve never held public service; but I can make public assets I own and I’m making them public here, hoping you’ll be challenged to make yours public, General Integrity!

Property:
1) 5-bedroom bungalow (Abuja)
2) 3 bedroom duplex – mortgage (UK)
3) 3 bedroom duplex – mortgage (US)
4) A House – inheritance (Edo)
5) 1 SUV- Range Rover Sport; 2 saloon cars; Jaguar XF & Peugeot 406;
6) Books – over 3k

7) Monies in two bank accounts (jointly owned with my wife)

If you require a specific affidavit to verify my assets, home and abroad, I’ll be willing to do so; but on the CONDITION you make public your assets declaration form.

Deal, Sir, Muhammadu Buhari?

*Mahmud, a legal practitioner and former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, shared this article on Twitter via @AbdulMahmud01.

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