Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has called on Bola Tinubu, to reconsider the tax policy reforms, warning that they could result in total anarchy.
He made the call during the Christmas Day celebration organised in Bauchi on Thursday.
According to him, the policy does not in any way favour the North, adding that the governors would not be able to pay salaries.
He said, “To the tax reforms- it is not a good policy for northern Nigeria because we are not going to get money to pay you salaries.
“They must listen, otherwise, they are calling for anarchy and that is not good. We voted for the president in the state and other states.
“They must listen to us! They must not come up with a policy that favours only one state in the country.
“It is not about religion. It is not about tribe. It is about national unity. It is about national hegemony.
“We are all about good leadership, and we will continue to urge them for the time being, but if the situation persists, they will see our real colour. We are going to fight for it.”
He also called on Christians to pray for Nigeria. According to him, religion should not be a tool to divide the people.
He said, “We join our Christian brothers to celebrate this day, the birthday of Jesus Christ. And we use this opportunity as the government of Bauchi State, to thank the people, to thank the Christians for their support over the years, especially for my dear party, the PDP and my humble self.
“Even when I was in ANPP, the Christians helped me and voted for me, and they voted for me despite my limitations and my gaps.
“I appreciate your support all through, even when we came for the second term. You deserve our appreciation because you have earned it.
“You are my brothers and sisters because I am a special breed of person. Most of you are my tribesmen.
“We come from the same source, we only believe differently. You are free to practice your religion. I am free to practice my religion. There is no compulsion in religion.
“I call on you to pray for Nigeria. Pray for all the leaders of Nigeria, including my humble self because Nigeria needs prayers. We are facing a lot of difficulties. There is a lot of wahala. There is a lot of anger, and it is something that we have to pray for God to obliterate it. We have to say it but certainly, it is not to insult anybody,” he said.
This is funny (or rather) rubbish talk about impending anarchy. In real sense and talking about ACCOUNTABILITY, EEUITY & JUSTICE, have the Governors, especially in the North (that are crying louder than the bereaved) performed creditably in delivering dividends of democracy right to the grassroots? With the homongous monthly allocations, averaging about N10 billion every month since the Tinubu administration came on board and petroleum subsidy removed, what have they to show??? I think the Tax Bill should be taken as a challenge to be more instrospective on good governance and service delivery and ensuring true financial and othe democratic autonomies of the Local Government.
On the reverse, rather than pointing hands at President Tinubu regarding the Tax Bill as it will be deleterious to the North, I see it as indirectly trying to incite the people through the Clerics…. But truly, should anarchy break out, the first victims to be accosted will be the Local Governments, then the Governors on whose head governance start from the grass roots to the Cities; given the huge amount released to them monthly.
FORTITUDE is truly required to handle the humongous challenges facing Nigeria, which include but not limited to reducing cost of governance and blocking leakages in revenue accruing at all levels of governance. Governors should rather be seen to be suupotive of Mr. President rather tha attempts to be combative..