LET THE INCOMING MINISTERS FOLLOW PRESIDENT BUHARI’S EXAMPLE Femi Ojo

Picture Courtesy of Ynaija

There is one commendable area where President Buhari started well, on the “change” mantra of his party.  The President and  his vice, Mr. Yemi Osibanjo have both set the precedence some few months ago, by walking the path of integrity and exemplary leadership, they declared their assets publicly to Nigerians and the world at large. This is truly, the path of change and this should be a clarion call to public accountability for the new coming ministers in the Buhari’s administration.

After the dramatization on selection, submission, screening and subsequent confirmation of President Buhari’s ministerial designates, I think the President should advise the incoming ministers to toe the path of integrity by making them to declare their assets publicly to prove to those who are still in doubt that this administration is different from the former regime.  With the level of alleged corrupt acts done since the return of our nascent democratic experience in Nigeria, Nigerians have come to believe that our politicians can’t be trusted anymore. But President Buhari’s body language on anti- corruption has sent a clear message to Nigerians that it is no more business as usual and thus gradually rebuilding the lost trust.

This is a clarion call to the incoming cabinets, majority of whom are members of the ruling party, it is important to say that the change promised Nigerians should start with them, let the incoming ministers declare their assets publicly and publish same in national dailies in the same way Mr. President did. If this could be emulated, Nigerians will have no doubt that the change era indeed has begun.

I remember the President on April 12^th, 2015 on Sahara TV said “All those that would be governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, head of foreign staff and those with political appointments will have to declare their assets on resumption of their appointments and definitely with the courts. And once they leave, they have to re-declare their assets” These are the words of Mr. President and Nigerians hope they will be put into action as we await the ministers’ inauguration. Change as a political mantra of the ruling party must not only be about mere rhetoric for political merry making, it must be seen and approximated to reality by those who promote such political chant and the incoming ministers should be included in such action that aligns with the ‘change’ mantra.

 As Mr. President demonstrated the first integrity and moral precedence in his new administration, it is therefore morally essential for the incoming ministers to follow this example. This will give further assurance to Nigerians that the President’s fight against corruption is real and not a selective agenda. This will also demonstrate that Mr. President is a man; whose words can be trusted.  As the ministers are inaugurated soon, let the wind of change blow!