President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reassured Nigerians that he will deliver on his promise to constitute his cabinet by end of this month and called on them to challenge him if he fails to do so.
The president, at a joint press conference with his Ghanaian counterpart, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, in Aburi, Ghana, urged Nigerians and the international community to be patient with him, as he would name his cabinet before the end of the month.
Buhari, who was in Ghana on a one-day visit, had first explained why he would not appoint his cabinet until September in an article titled, ‘Nigeria committed to good governance and fighting terror,’ published by the Washington Post on July 20, ahead of his meeting with President Barack Obama of United States.
He was in Ghana to engage Mahama on regional security and other bilateral related issues. Buhari has been under attack for being too slow in forming a cabinet, a move interpreted by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a show of lack of capacity to deliver of electoral promises. But in a response to his critics, the president said: “After I was sworn in, I said I would have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after the 30th of September if I do not do so.”
The president also told reporters that the Nigerian military, in close collaboration with the Multi- National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), has recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram since he assumed office. “The first thing I did after I came into office was to reorganise the military and clear orders were given to them in terms of retraining, re-equipping and redeployment of troops.
“In the North-East, the military is gaining ground and Boko Haram has been limited to the Sambisa forest. “Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are gradually moving back home and they are being reintegrated into their respective communities,” the president said.
On his recent declaration of assets, Buhari said it was a constitutional requirement that all public officeholders in Nigeria should declare their assets before and after their term in office.
He said: “I recall that in 1975 when the late Murtala Muhammed became the head of state, we were lined up – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council. Officials of Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets. “All heads of state and government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.
“I have declared my assets four times. When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of State and now as a President, I have also declared.”
Earlier, Mahama had said both leaders had fruitful discussions on how to enhance bilateral relations and improve regional security. Mahama said Nigeria and Ghana would soon begin the process of reviving their joint commission for cooperation.
He added that both leaders also agreed to encourage closer cooperation between the intelligence and anti-graft agencies of both countries. He thanked Buhari for his visit and assured him of Ghana’s support and cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
