Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he had already declared his assets to the relevant authority according to the law, adding that declaring his assets publicly was not part of the dictates of the law.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, in a statement noted that it was necessary for people to de-emphasise asset declaration, but the sincerity behind such exercise.
According to him, some public office holders could over-declare their assets to pave the way for them to steal public funds in future, while others, who had held public offices in the past, might under-declare their personal belongings in order to give the impression that they were never involved in corrupt practices while in office.
He said: “The governor has declared his assets and this is exactly what he told newsmen during the tour of his administration’s projects.
“There is no law compelling him to make his declaration public. He has declared his assets and the declaration was made to the relevant authority.
“Let me also say that it is not just about asset declaration; it has to do with the sincerity of the person because some may over-declare when they want to steal in future. So, they declare to accommodate the theft in future.
“Some may also declare for whatever reason; maybe they have held public offices in the past and they don’t want people to know that they have stolen money. So, people will declare; it is not all about the declaration of assets.
“What is crucial is the sincerity of the person declaring and you are supposed to declare when you get out of office.
“But the truth is that if you are a governor or a minister, what matters is the delivery of the dividends of democracy. That is what is important and it is not about what you declare and how much you declare.”
Wike debunked the claim by the All Progressives Congress in the state that most of the projects completed by his administration were started by the immediate past governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
He, however, noted that projects that will impact on the lives of the people should not be abandoned by any successor. .
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