A POLITICIAN DECLARING HIS ASSETS?

In most Western democracies, the financial assets of politicians and other individuals of significance and clout are usually readily available. This information is not always accessible in most African countries. However, for the first time Nigerian history, a politician has let us know what he is worth. Yardy declared his assets at $5 million or N850 million.


I congratulate Yardy on sharing this information with the Nigerian public. Apparently, Yardy typically released such financial information when he was governor of Katsina. Upon releasing the information yesterday, he declared that his action “was borne out of his conviction that the war against corruption cannot have meaning until those at the helm begin to live by example”. According to ThisDay, he also added that he would work with the leadership of the National Assembly “to see what can be done to make assets declarations an effective weapon in the fight against corruption and abuse of office”. A statement of his wife's assets were also released and stand at N19 million.


As a strategical move, declaring his wealth reinforces Yardy's reputation as an honest and non-corrupt politician. It will prevent or at least limit, accusations of graft, which are sure to come. However, even this cannot clean him of the stench that was the elections. Questions as to his legitimacy remain. Yet one cannot help but applaud the effort to foster transparency in Nigerian politics. After all, transparency is a concept seemingly alien to Nigeria and its introduction to most facets of Nigerian life could serve to help alleviate some of the problems we have - CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY.

Nevertheless, Yardy, a former teacher, has done very well for himself. Let us see what his next step will be.