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EXCLUSIVE: How Buhari ignored own Transition Committee’s recommendation to publicly declare assets on assuming office
President Muhammadu Buhari has ignored the recommendation of his transition committee to publicly declare his assets immediately after assuming office, according to PREMIUM TIMES.
As part of quick wins for the administration, the Ahmed Joda-led committee recommended that the President should immediately after assumption of office declare his assets publicly.
It also recommended prompt prosecution of pending cases and the publication of the audited financial statements of the Federal Government.
Other recommendations include the recovery of stolen funds, review and reforms in government waivers and tax exemptions as well as non-conviction based forfeiture by legislations.
But more than a month after he was sworn in, Mr. Buhari has not made his assets and so is his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo.
The President’s refusal to disclose the report of his asset declaration is a clear negation of the promise of his party, the All Progressives Congress, that unlike former President Goodluck Jonathan, their presidential candidate, Mr. Buhari would publish his assets if elected into office.
While campaigning across the country, the APC had assured Nigerians that Mr. Buhari would publicly declare his assets and liabilities immediately after assumption of office.
“General Muhammadu Buhari believes sincerely that no matter how vast our resources, if they are not efficiently utilized, they will only benefit a privileged few, leaving the majority in abject poverty. This he wants to avoid by all lawful means,” a member of the party’s presidential campaign council, Osita Okechukwu, had said during a pro-Buhari road show in Enugu.
“To achieve this he publicly will declare his assets and liabilities and encourage his political appointees to follow suit immediately he is sworn-in.”
Two days after he was sworn in as president and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, urged him and Mr. Osinbajo to promptly make public the details of their declared assets.
The group said the public declaration of their assets would be consistent with Messrs Buhari and Osinbajo’s anti-corruption credentials and their promises to the electorate.
The request was made immediately after the two leaders declared their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by the Constitution.
“We welcome the official declaration of assets by the president and the vice-president. This clearly complies with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution as contained in Chapter 6 Section 140,” the group stated.
“However, the declaration before the Code of Conduct alone falls far short of the commitment to publicly declare their assets.
“SERAP recalls that the president said before the election that he would publicly declare his assets and liabilities, and encourage all his appointees to publicly declare their assets and liabilities as a pre-condition for appointment.
“We now expect the president to fulfill this promise to the Nigerian people.
“We trust that the president and vice-president will move swiftly to publicly declare their assets and to publish widely the information on a dedicated website.’’
Reacting to the request and others made by Nigerians from all walks of life, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, on June 6, assured that Mr. Buhari would make the report of his asset declaration public.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has said that in fulfillment of one of their campaign promises, his declared assets and those of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be released to the public upon the completion of their verification by the Code of Conduct Bureau,” Mr. Shehu said.
“It is hoped that this process will be completed before the expiry of the 100-day deadline within which they said they would do this.”
He noted that the duly completed forms by both the President and the Vice President were submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on March 28th, a day before their inauguration.
Mr. Shehu said his press statement on the matter became necessary to clarify some insinuations that the President and the Vice-President may not, after all, declare their assets publicly.
“While such public display of concern is appreciated and valued, it must be said that it is a little precipitate.
“As required by law, the declaration and submission of documents to the CCB have been made, but there still remains the aspect of verification which the Bureau will have to conduct to authenticate the submissions made to it.
“In the circumstances, it is only after this verification exercise, and not before, that the declaration can be said to have been made and validated; and only after this, will the details be released to the public.
“There is no question at all that the President and the Vice President are committed to public declaration of their assets within the 100 days that they pledged during the presidential campaign.”
But Mr. Buhari’s transition committee believed it was more ideal for the president to publicly declare his asset immediately he assumed office, an advice Mr. Buhari spurned
Dr. Abigail Adesina Olagbaye, CEO Desigo Tourism Development and Facility Management Company Ltd and founder, Sayari Dunia Sustainable Tourism Foundation, a seasoned tourism practitioner with 23 years of experience (out of which 21 years have been in Tourism), has announced her candidacy for President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), the oldest and premier tourism trade Association in Nigeria.
With a proven track record of driving innovation and sustainable growth, Dr. Olagbaye is poised to transform Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
” Her vision is to re-position ATPN as the leading voice for Nigeria’s tourism development,” Dr. Olagbaye stated. “I’m committed to empowering our members with the training, resources, and networking opportunities they need to excel in their careers and elevate industry standards.”
Dr. Olagbaye’s campaign focuses on five key objectives:
– Strengthening Industry Partnerships: Fostering collaborations and alliances that drive growth and development.
– Capacity Building: Providing training, resources and opportunities to enhance professionalism.
– Advocacy: Amplifying the voice of tourism practitioners in Nigeria and beyond.
– Tourism Promotion: Showcasing Nigeria’s hidden gems both domestically and internationally.
– Improved Member Benefits: Enhancing the overall experience for ATPN members.
Additional initiatives to consider include:
– Faith-based International Conference Tourism: Tapping into the MICE potential of faith-based tourism.
– Medical Tourism: Promoting Nigeria as a hub for medical excellence.
– Sports Tourism: Leveraging sports to drive tourism growth.
– Language Training: Enhancing language skills to improve tourist experiences.
– Youth Tourism: creating opportunities for youths to be actively engaged in Tourism leveraging their potentials, talents and energies and enabling them to benefit from the socio-economic opportunities that tourism offers.
– Agro Tourism: Develop agro-tourism as a sub-sector of Tourism through partnerships and collaboration with the ministry of agriculture to ensure regulatory support, international organisations for cross pollination of ideas and knowledge transfer and capacity building, encourage our members to organise more farm stays, rural tours, food tourism events for more authentic experiences. Advocate for infrastructural development for rural roads and other amenities. Collaborate with locals for sustainability and inclusion.
To further enhance Nigeria’s tourism industry, Dr. Olagbaye plans to create robust social media platforms for the association. This will enable people at home and abroad to access tourism companies in Nigeria with international standard websites and social media focusing on major sites.Social media being an essential tool for promoting tourism.
As the pioneer of initiatives like Africa Tourism Climate Action Forum ATCAF and Africa Tourism Day, a nouveaux initiative in Africa which she started in 2020 in collaboration with the African Tourism Board, now in its 5th edition, Dr. Olagbaye has demonstrated her passion for sustainable tourism practices and her ability to drive meaningful change. “I invite fellow tourism practitioners to join me in transforming Nigeria’s tourism landscape,” she concluded.
Get in touch with Dr. Abigail Olagbaye:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +2349122525250
Social Media: @abbieolagbaye
@abigailolagbaye
@Dr. Abigail Olagbaye
(Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)
*Campaign Slogan:* “Transforming Tourism, Empowering Practitioners”.
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The Next Chapter of Amen City: Sade Balogun talks about TIARA Estates & Amen Phase 3 in Lagos, Nigeria
In a move that underscores her commitment to excellence, Sade Balogun, the mastermind behind Redbrick Homes International Limited and Amen City Ltd, has introduced TIARA Estates and Amen Estate Phase 3, expanding the renowned Amen City in a big way!
Situated in the picturesque Ibeju-Lekki area, Amen City has become synonymous with luxury and elegance. The launch of TIARA and TIARA 2.0 by Amen City Ltd soon after Amen Estate Phase 3 is set to elevate this community to new heights.
With its refined homes and superior amenities, the TIARA series embodies royalty and opulence. Amen Phase 3 enhances the living experience with modern architecture and top-tier facilities.
A nearby hospital at Amen Estate Phase 2 offers swift healthcare access, contributing to residents’ peace of mind. This proximity to medical facilities is especially important in emergencies, ensuring that help is always close by.
A large supermarket within the estate provides convenience for everyday shopping, eliminating the need for long trips to distant markets. The presence of excellent schools nearby ensures quality education for children, making it an ideal location for families. The coastal road that reduces travel time to Victoria Island to under 40 minutes makes Amen City a practical choice for professionals who need to commute to the city.
The estate 24-hour light supply from a dedicated turbine engine ensures uninterrupted power, which is a significant benefit for those seeking reliable energy solutions.
Sade Balogun’s innovative vision has transformed Amen City into a model of luxury living and community development. This expansion marks another milestone in her illustrious career, reinforcing Amen City’s status as a premier investment destination. With her ability to foresee market trends and deliver projects that exceed expectations, Sade Balogun continues to set new standards in Nigerian real estate.
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