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Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has urged the withdrawal of the tax reform bills.
Zulum argued that the bills, introduced to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in September, would hinder development in the northern region.
The proposed reforms have been met with opposition from Northern governors, traditional rulers, and the Northern Elders Forum. Despite the pushback, the Senate advanced the bills to a second reading on Thursday amid a tense plenary session.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Governor Zulum expressed frustration over the rapid progression of the bills, noting that similar proposals often take years to move through the legislative process.
He said, “We condemn these bills transmitted to the National Assembly. They will drag the north backward, and not only the north, South East, South West and some states in the South West such as Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, will have problem with these bills.
“It is not opposition. This, based on our understanding, is something that will destroy the north in its entirety. Therefore, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others to review this decision. He secured 60% of his votes in the north. He should not listen to those telling him that northerners are not supporting him. If our interest is served, that is all. What we need now is the withdrawal of the tax bills.
“Why all the rush! There’s a petroleum bill that was presented but it took almost 20 years before it was finally passed. But this one was transmitted and now receiving legislative attention within a week. What we are saying is that, let it be treated carefully and with caution so that even after our exit, our children would reap the benefits.
“How we see it is, if these bills scale through, we will not be able to even pay salaries. And if we paid, it won’t be sustainable the following year.”
Asked whether the bills would further exacerbate hunger and poverty in the north, Zulum answered in the affirmative, adding, “Including security. But they’re saying otherwise. We are against it, Lagos is against it; that it will drag it backwards. If this is the situation, then why won’t they rescind it? Our National Assembly members and even some from the Southern region are not in support of these bills.”
The son of the Borno State governor, Umara Babagana Zulum, has denied the allegation of killing a Chinese citizen in an Indian nightclub.
The governor’s son, who on Thursday spoke in an about 35-second-long video clip, said the allegation against was targeted at tarnishing his father’s image.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the state government through a statement issued by Abdurrahman Bundi, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Zulum on New Media on Wednesday, had denied the allegation and further threatened legal action against the publishers of the alleged defamatory news against the governor’s son.
According to social media reports, Umara, a student at a university in New Delhi, reportedly smashed a bottle of alcoholic drink on a Chinese national who showed interest in the same lady with him at a nightclub.
But, debunking the reports, Bundi said none of the governor’s sons “was either arrested or charged with any crime, or involved in any unlawful activities anywhere.”
Bundi urged the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information on social media.
Also, in the now viral video, which was obtained by LEADERSHIP on Thursday in Maiduguri, the governor’s son spoke about the allegation, describing it as baseless and untrue.
He said he was speaking on Thursday at the Government House in Maiduguri, suggesting that he was not in detention or in India at the moment.
The governor’s son said his father was the target of those behind the murder allegation against him.
“Dear esteemed Nigerians, I am Umara Babagana Umara Zulum, I am here to address damaging falsehood that had been made against me.
“It has come to my notice, a baseless gossip accusation against me saying that I killed someone at a nightclub. This is not true. They want to tarnish my father’s name. I have been with my family since two months now, right in Maiduguri,” he stated.