Rivers Gov. Wike Says He Has Declared His Assets to ‘Relevant Authorities’

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on Wednesday stated that he has declared his assets to ‘relevant authorities’ and as a result, he doesn’t feel the need for a public declaration of assets.

His opinion was expressed via a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, Punch reports.

Here is the statement:

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.