Lai: Buhari was advised against naming looters
Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has revealed the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari reneged on his promise of disclosing the identities of looters.
At the anti-corruption summit in London, Buhari promised to give specific details on recovered loots during his democracy day address.
“So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals, I intend on the 29th to speak on this because all Nigerians are getting from the mass media because of the number of people arrested either by the EFCC, DSS. But we want to make a comprehensive report on the 29th,” he had said.
But during his address, Buhari transferred the responsibility to the ministry of information and culture.
“The processes of recovery can be tedious and time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far: significant amount of assets have been recovered. A considerable portion of these are at different stages of recovery. Full details of the status and categories of the assets will now be published by the ministry of information and updated periodically,” the president said in his address.
However, speaking at The First Year, a programme organised by Channels Television to mark the one year anniversary of the current administration, Mohammed said the list would soon be available.
“We will get the list but not today; before the end of the week. But I must say not with the names,” he said.
When asked why the president did not fulfill his promise, the minster tried to defend Buhari: “Of course for obvious legal reasons. The president said he was going to release the amount recovered and where the recovered assets are.”
Apparently realising that his argument was not convincing, Mohammed said: “Yes he initially said so (naming looters), but he was advised against doing so for legal reasons. Of course, he has a right to reverse himself on that.”
Someone should please tell Mr President to desist from making empty promises only to renage on them as soon as they were made. This is fast becoming his trademark:
1. Thrice he told Nigerians “this is the last time I will ever contest election to be president….” but he soon changed his mind on all the three occasions!
2. “I promised to declare my assets publicly” he said before coming to power. He also changed his mind! When the pressure was becoming unbearable, he “fulfilled” his promise by making public a MOCK declaration of his “assets” (hope someone will not ask us to take “I have shares in two banks” with no value attached; “five houses and two “mud” houses” no further description and no value attached; “assorted birds” no further description and number/values attached; “several cars” still no value attached; “30millions naira in bank account” for a man who was said to have less than a million naira in his bank account and only one house in Daura when he was canvassing for votes (considering the fact that the asset declaration form was filled/completed at about the same period; “I have plots of lands in Abuja and Port-Harcourt that I am still tracing” (who is fooling who) no further description which implies it could grow to several hectares of land I the choicest parts of those cities at the end of the day;…. ” as the fulfilment of that promise.
I am concerned because Mr President is presented as a man of integrity (which by interpretation means “saying what you mean and meaning what you say). He should therefore get all his facts right before making promises. Rather, his advisers should be advising him before making promises.
God bless Nigeria
You took the word right out of my mouth. Am so disappointed in mr president at this moment. You forgot to add the promise he made to jobless young graduate of 5k monthly allowance during election but which he denied after victory. Only recently did they just re promised to start paying it after much uproar from the poor masses. This is an integrity issue!!!
Your comment..For me pmb has the right to reversed whatever he promised to do, which have some side effects on his administration.