Buhari assures on cabinet before end of September

… says I have declared my assets four times since 1975

Nigerians are free to question me if I fail to announce my cabinet before the end of the month, President Muhammadu Buhari, said Monday in Aburi, Ghana.

President Buhari gave the assurance at a joint press conference with President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.

“After I was sworn-in, I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after the 30th of September if I do not do so,” Buhari said, while responding to a question on the appointment of ministers.

The president, who said he had declared his assets four times since 1975, while occupying different positions of public office, tasked Nigerian journalists to put on their investigative caps and dig out details of his assets, rather than continuously harassing him.

Responding to a question from the Ghanaian press on how he could impress it on other African leaders and public office holders to emulate him by making assets declaration a priority in governance, he acknowledged that Nigeria had embedded it in its Constitution to make it easier.

He urged journalists, who had pressured him to declare his assets, to use the law to dig up the records of his four separate declarations.

“I recall that in 1975, when late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up in the corridor – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council – and officials of Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

“So right now, all heads of state and government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries will have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.

“In Nigeria, it is a constitutional issue and that is why I am blaming you gentlemen of the press. If you really want to do investigative journalism, you don’t have to worry me at this stage; I have declared my assets four times.

“When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of state and now as a President, I also declared.

“I have declared my assets and all that I have four times, and you (the media) have the right to go and demand for my declaration. Instead, I am being harassed,” he said.