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The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has countered the allegation from the presidency that he is stirring up anarchy against the government of President Bola Tinubu over the Tax Reform Bills.
Governor Mohammed, in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, said he is only giving candid advice on the dangers of proceeding with bad decisions or policies.
Naija News recalls the Bauchi Governor had described the Tax Reform Bills introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration as anti-North and a threat to the unity of Nigeria.
The Governor argued that President Tinubu‘s reforms seemed designed to benefit specific regions of the country while leaving the North at a disadvantage.
In response, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, on Monday, said the statements coming from the Bauchi State Governor are unbecoming of his office and public status.
The presidential media aide urged Governor Mohammed to focus on resolving the developmental and poverty challenges in his state rather than issuing threats against President Bola Tinubu or making inflammatory statements against the government and President Tinubu and urged him to retract his words.
Reacting to the statement from the presidency, Governor Mohammed on Tuesday, said he was only giving advice based on his closeness to the people and an understanding of what the people want.
He said: “To start with, it is the height of mischief that Governor Bala Mohammed’s candid advice on the dangers of proceeding with bad decisions or policies that could worsen the plight of the masses, has been taken out of context, as a threat on the presidency. It would have been out of character for him to threaten the President or the presidency, an institution for which he has the greatest respect.”
“His remarks were essentially precautionary, given the deep-seated frustrations caused by the prevailing economic situation. and were aimed at ensuring that the proposed tax reforms are equitable, inclusive, and sensitive to the unique socio-economic challenges of the constituent parts of the country. His overall aim, as he has always done, was to foster dialogue and advocate for policies that protect the interests of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in economically disadvantaged states.
“When Governor Bala Mohammed asserted that the Presidency’s attempt to shove the discredited tax reforms down the throat of Nigerians was a recipe for anarchy, he spoke from the position of someone who is closer to the populace and who carries the mandate of not only the over seven million people of Bauchi State but who also possesses an intimate knowledge of a very significant subregional group in the country. It is not by accident that his genuine reservation against the tax reforms coincides with those of some APC governors who have consistently warned against implementing the proposed reform in its present form. Therefore, it smacks of a disingenuous attempt at blackmail and a throwback to the insensitivity of the Government to single Bala Mohammed out for inquisition. Could it be because he is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?
“If the Presidency had genuinely desired an all-inclusive tax reform that would command the buy-in of various stakeholder and subnational groups in the country, it could have subjected a draft to discussion before railroading it to the National Assembly. It did not. Even when it was given a soft landing by the National Economic Council, NEC, a body headed by the Vice President of the country and which, by that token, was expected to command the respect of the President, its advice that the reform be taken back was blatantly disregarded. So, who is against dialogue?”
On the allegation of a high poverty rate in Bauchi, the Governor’s aide said the position of the presidency is both misleading and unfair.
He also highlighted the achievements recorded by his principal which have endeared him to the people.
“It is common knowledge that Bauchi State has faced systemic socio-economic challenges inherited over decades. Over time, these challenges have been compounded by our compatriots fleeing for their lives from the insecurity in other states as well as other existential challenges confronting them. Despite this, the Bala Mohammed administration has leveraged resources to deliver impactful development projects that have significantly improved the quality of life of the citizens. Contrary to the Presidency’s claims, Bauchi State under Governor Bala Mohammed has made remarkable progress in key sectors.
“Finally, the Bauchi State Government is satisfied that the people of Bauchi State stand firmly behind their governor, whose achievements speak volumes about his dedication to constitutionalism, progress and all-inclusive people-oriented service,” the statement concluded.
