Don’t harass me over assets declaration — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday urged journalists to desist from harassing him over his assets.
He also restated plan to name his cabinet this month.
The President made the declaration in Aburi, Ghana during a working visit.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said Buhari gave the assurance at a joint press conference with his host, President John Dramani Mahama.
On the declaration of assets, President Buhari challenged Nigerian journalists to be more investigative in their work and by looking for details of his assets declaration, which he said he had done four times since 1975, instead of harassing him.
Buhari was responding to a question from the Ghanaian press on how he could impress it on other African leaders and public office holders to emulate him by making assets declaration a priority in governance.
The Nigerian leader affirmed that it was a constitutional requirement that all public office holders in Nigeria should declare their assets before and after their term in office.
He said: “I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Mohammed 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 States and Government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.”
Buhari added: “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.”
On the naming of his cabinet, Buhari said: “After I was sworn-in, I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after the 30th of September if I do not do so,” according to the statement.
He also told reporters that the Nigerian military, in close collaboration with the Multi-National Joint Task Force, had recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram since he assumed office as President, the statement added.
Buhari was also quoted as saying: “The first thing I did after I came into office was to reorganize the military and clear orders were given to them in terms of retraining, re-equipping and redeployment of troops.
“In the northeast, the military is gaining ground and Boko Haram has been limited to the Sambisa forest.
“Internally Displaced Persons are gradually moving back home and they are being reintegrated into their respective communities.”
Earlier, President Mahama said both leaders had fruitful discussions on how to enhance bilateral relations and improve regional security.
He added that Nigeria and Ghana would soon begin the process of reviving their joint commission for cooperation.
The Ghanaian President disclosed that both leaders also agreed to encourage closer cooperation between the intelligence and anti-graft agencies of both countries.
He thanked President Buhari for his visit and assured him of Ghana’s support and cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.