For those who follow the Forbes magazine list of the richest people in the world, you would already know that Aliko Dangote was listed as one of the four billionaires in Africa and officially the richest man in Nigeria.

For those who don’t follow the magazine, let me bring you up to speed. Forbes Magazine is a globally respected financial magazine that reports on all that has to do with wealth, lifestyle, business and economics as it affects or concerns the global business players. It has a website forbes.com and annually releases data of the richest people in the world.

Okay, now that you are up to speed, I guess that as a Nigerian you are excited that one of us has finally appeared on the list, and if you are African, you are glad that the list of rich africans is expanding. I am excited too. To an extent actually, why I hear you ask, well my answer is, where is the probity?

I am not concerned that he got his wealth mainly from Government patronage. I am not bothered that he uses mean spirited business antics and is the reason that loads of other Nigerian businessmen swam in the waters of bankruptcy. I am not worried that as a monopolist, he has driven the Nigerian commodities out of the reach of the ordinary man. These do not prick me, because all the others on that list are sharks themselves, but what I know is that there is an extent of probity in their existence.

What I mean by probity is; what do they give back to the countries in which they exist, both officially and unofficially. Officially in terms of taxes, unofficially in terms of philantrophy.

So I ask, can Alhaji Aliko Dangote kindly make public his tax filings for the last 25 years. Can we Nigerians ensure that due diligence is done, in the perusal of these filings so that we know that he has paid back his fair share to the country, just like the average well meaning Nigerian has. That he has given back to a country that has given him so much. In foreign countries, tax evasion ranks just below murder as the worst offence you can commit. The rich go to lengths to hide their money from the tax man, and when they can’t they pay up. Has Alhaji paid up? We must know that he is law abiding before we celebrate him.

Now I wonder, what has he given back to Nigeria and the country in general in the realm of philantrophy, We all remember Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, we remember his large heart. During the 1990 presidential debate, he made a statement, “To whom much is given, much is expected in return” May he rest in perfect peace.

So now, what has Aliko given back to the society in the light of such largesse he has? Where and to whom was this given? The Bill Gates, the Warren Buffets etc have given to Africa in terms of the fight against AIDS and global poverty, but what has Aliko and the other 3 african multi billionaires done to join in this fight?

The saying is that “Charity begins at home”, so we ask you Alhaji Aliko Dangote, where is your charity? and before you answer, where are your tax filings?