Union Newspaper calls El-Rufai bluff

 OREDOLA ADEOLA

‘We stand by our report; prove us wrong by declaring your asset – The Union Newspaper

Despite threat by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai, to sue the Union Newspaper following a publication in the paper which revealed that the governor in his asset declaration form submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau claimed he owns N90billion assets and 40 houses in Abuja, the newspaper has challenged the governor to go ahead with the legal threat.  

Mr. Casmir Igbokwe, the Editor-in- Chief, Union Newspaper, Lagos, a seasoned journalist with proven track record, said that the paper stand by the report of its Abuja Bureau Chief. He however urged the governor to go ahead with the threat on the condition that he is willing to declare his assets public.

‘’ Union Newspaper stand by our story for now until when proven wrong. The story was based on information from our reporter in Abuja. We have no reason to doubt the credibility of our reporter. He got the story from reliable sources after he had contacted the media team of the governor and the Code of Conduct Bureau, but they chose not to comment.’’.

‘’The governor has every right to sue us; it is within the purview of his fundamental human right, to act otherwise, if he feels the report is not valid. If he says what we published is false let him release what he declared.

‘’We have no malice towards him, but he should be prepared to give what he is worth by making it public as recommended by the constitution. ‘’ he explained.

Casmir, however noted that the Union Newspaper is against secret declaration of assets. According to him, the governor’s refusal to make his assets public for us to see, is not good for the country’s democracy.