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#WhereisTheList is the question on the lips of many Nigerians after Thursday came and went without the publication of the details of recovered assets as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the anti-corruption summit in London, President Muhammadu Buhari had promised Nigerians that he will expose those who have stolen the resources of the country on May 29.
But rather than keep to his words on that day, Buhari transferred the responsibility to Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, during his Democracy Day broadcast.
Lai Mohammed later on that day said the information would be revealed, but not with the names of the looters.
On why Buhari decided against revealing names, Lai Mohammed said:
“Yes he initially said so (naming looters). The president said he was going to release the amount recovered and where the recovered assets are, but he was advised against doing so for legal reasons. Of course, he has a right to reverse himself on that.”
Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, was also confident that the list will be out “latest by Thursday”.
He said:
“What he (President) said was that the minister of information will be making a pronouncement on this, and this is going to happen when work resumes on Tuesday.
“This is likely going to be out by Wednesday, or latest by Thursday. So nothing has changed from the position that there will be disclosure.
Journalists as well as many Nigerians waited till late Thursday but no list was forwarded to the media.
On what could be holding the list, Premium Times quoted a source close to the presidency as saying that the chances of the details being published are “thin as air,” adding that certain sensitive Central Bank and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s anti-corruption activities needed to be handled carefully.
The source said:
“Our people should understand that the process of getting this information out to them is quite more complex than they think.
“The minister is even away in Rivers State for the launch of the Ogoni land clean-up, and was not back in the office as at the close of work. Let’s keep hope alive that something will happen on Friday (tomorrow).”
Another source was quoted as saying:
“Unfortunately, Nigerians may need to remain a bit more patient with this administration on the matter of publishing recovered monies. The details were not pushed to the minister’s office as early as we thought they would.”
And below is what Nigerians are saying:
I heard the list of looters is still undergoing some padding, hence the delay. THE PADDING HAVE DO O!
#WhereisTheList
Thursday don almost finish ooo we never still see the list, i don check everywhere the list nor dey. Lai mohammed
#WhereIsTheList?
Buhari try and keep just one promise
#WhereisTheList
#WhereisTheList.@MBuhari has taken over from Lai as Nigeria’s no.1 Liar. I will never believe him again.