Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has criticized the opposition from the 19 northern governors to the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
“As far as I am concerned, that tax bill must go on,” the nonagenarian said on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
The tax bills recently introduced by the Tinubu administration have ignited intense controversy, drawing sharp criticism and strong opposition from various quarters, including the 36 state governors under the National Economic Council (NEC).
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The 19 northern governors have also firmly opposed certain sections of the bills, demanding that they be withdrawn from the National Assembly.
Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), criticized the position taken by the northern governors following the stance adopted by NEC.
“I was so shocked when I learned that the 19 governors of the north have met again. If 36 of you met, why are you meeting again? The northern governors, most of them, don’t realise what they are doing. So, the double standards, this arrogance of power must stop,” he said.
The PANDEF leader emphasized that the President requires wisdom to govern Nigeria, as certain individuals are attempting to treat the country as their personal domain. He pointed out that when these individuals choose to distribute resources, they must consider the origin of the funds they are sharing, stressing the importance of paying taxes.
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Clark also voiced his dissatisfaction with the position of the NEC regarding the tax bills, criticizing the governors and Vice President Kashim Shettima for transforming the council into an executive body.
He said, “I was shocked when the 36 governors under the chairmanship of the vice president discussed that Mr President should set aside the bill for further consultation. Not only that, the 19 northern governors came together and met but they should ask themselves what have we gained for dividing Nigeria. 19 governors, 17 governors, Today you have Progressive Governors, PDP Governors. These are not helping Nigeria.
“That body (NEC) is a constitutional body set up by the constitution of Nigeria as an advisory council under the chairmanship of Mr Vice President should meet with all the governors attending but today the governors have converted that council to an executive body. They have now gone into politics.
“The question is who are they going to consult? How many times have they consulted their people? They don’t stay at home. They are always in Abuja thinking that they will get more money.”
Clark stated that Nigeria does not belong to the President and he should stop appointing his allies as ministers.
“I think the leadership should embrace everybody in this country…But today, you look for all your friends, whether they are competent, whether they are honest; it’s wrong.
“Nigeria does not belong to Mr President; Nigeria belongs to everybody. Every Nigerian is equal. And unless we believe that every Nigerian can rise to the top of the position, otherwise there will be no Nigeria, the problems will be there,” he said.
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