“Declaring assets publicly was not part of the law” - Wike

Rivers state governor noted that declaring his assets publicly was not part of the dictates of the law.
Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, revealed that he had already declared his assets to the relevant authority, fulfilling the country’s constitutional requirement. 

The Punch reports that Wike made the statement on Wednesday, September 9, through his special adviser on media and publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah.

According to the governor, people should rely so much asset declaration, as the sincerity behind the declaration is crucial.

Wike stressed that the most important thing for him was to deliver the dividends of democracy and to develop Rivers state and its people. 

“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 ‘under-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,” he said. 

Reacting to the claim by the All Progressives Congress in the state that most of the projects completed by his administration were started by the former governor Rotimi Amaechi, Wike stressed that it was wrong to “personalise governance”. 

He noted that the projects that may change the lives of the people for the better should not be abandoned by any successor. Wike added that he had also initiated his own projects, completed and inaugurated them within 100 days in office.  

“It is a little bit disturbing that people have started personalising governance. They should not personalise governance because it is a continuum. You do the best you can and leave for your successor to continue from where you stopped. 

Earlier this week, Wike announced that Rivers state was excluded from the bailout funds released by President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor made the disclosure during a town hall meeting with people of the state as part of activities marking his 100 days in office.