By Ayoni M. Agbabiaka
Abuja
A minister-designate from Nasarawa state, Ibrahim Usman Jibril has debunked media report quoting him and some of his colleagues as saying they won’t emulate both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on assets declaration.
Besides, he said Ibrahim Umar, the purported media aide the national newspaper (not Blueprint), claimed to have spoken on his behalf was not known to him.
While asking for a retraction of the story, he urged the media to relate with him in a professional way.
In a statement personally signed by him yesterday, Jibril said: “My attention has been called to a story in a national newspaper quoting me and some other ministers-designate as saying we will not publicly declare our assets as President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo have done.
“While I am unable at this time to ascertain whether my colleagues quoted in the story spoke to the paper, I can say categorically, without any fear of contradiction that I did not, at any time, speak to anyone from that newspaper.
“The paper quoted a certain Ibrahim Umar, who it described as my media aide, as speaking to it on my behalf. I however have no such aide or associate. So it is either the quote was manufactured or it was given to the paper by an impostor.
“While I remain ever available to respond to media enquiries about my service to my country and its people, I would continue to insist that the media deal with me with utmost professionalism and transparency.”
