I Give A Damn; I Will Declare My Assets Publicly – Buhari

The presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, has declared that he respects Nigeria a lot, hence he would publicly declare his assets publicly, if voted into power on March 28.

Buhari stated this in a document released in Abuja on Thursday. The document highlights what the respeced ex-General will do in his first 100 days as soon as he assumes power on May 29, 2015. He said he would encourage political appointees in his administration to also declare their assets publicly.

Buhari said, “I pledge to publicly declare my assets and liabilities, encourage all my appointees to publicity declare their assets and liabilities as a pre-condition for appointment. 

“All political appointees will only earn the salaries and allowances determined by the RMFAC.”

If he keeps to his promise, he will be the second Nigerian president to publicly declare his assets.

The late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, also from Katsina State as Buhari, was the first and the only Nigeria’s President to have publicly declared his assets when he assumed office.

This action forced his then deputy, who is now the President Goodluck Jonathan, to also make his assets declaration forms available to the public.

However, since he assumed office as the substantive President, Jonathan has refused to make the forms available to the public, saying that he did that when he was serving as deputy to Yar’Adua.

When asked during a media chat whether he would consider declaring his assets publicity, President Jonathan refused, saying he did not give a damn.

But Buhari, in the document titled, “I pledge to Nigeria” also said that all his political appointees would only earn salaries and allowances as prescribed by the Revenue and Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission.

While pledging to personally lead the war against corruption in the country, Buhari also said that he would inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated in the Procurement Act.

He added that the Federal Executive Council, which he said had been turned to a weekly session of contract bazaar, would be made to concentrate on its principal function of policy making.

He said that he would also work with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act that will enable Nigerians to expose anyone who is stealing government money.

“I pledge, as Commander-in-Chief, to lead from the front and not behind in the comfort and security of Aso Rock, to boost the morale of fighting forces and the generality of all Nigerians,” he said.