Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa, has clarified that northern leaders are not opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Sule explained that the northern governors’ objection is solely directed at the proposed change to the value-added tax (VAT) sharing formula.

On Sunday, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), representing 19 northern states, formally rejected the proposed tax amendment bill.

In a communiqué issued after their meeting, the northern governors expressed their disapproval of shifting VAT distribution to a derivation-based model, arguing that such a change would be unfavorable to the northern region.

“This is because companies remit VAT using the location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed,” the northern governors had said.

On October 13, President Bola Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.

The proposed legislations are the Nigeria tax bill, tax administration bill, and joint revenue board establishment bill.

The Nasarawa governor said the northern leaders would not oppose the administration of Tinubu after working hard for his victory in the election.

He added that the proposed legislation on the sharing formula of VAT based on the derivation model is “unfair” to the north.

“The issue of VAT was the last item that was discussed during the meeting of northern leaders,” Sule said.

“After discussing various issues on mining and agriculture, the last issue was the issue of VAT.

“When the news came out, people were saying, ‘why are the governors of the north against President Tinubu?’.

“We cannot bring President Tinubu as president; the north came in heavily to make sure Tinubu became president and then turned around to be against him.

“We started the meeting by commending him (Tinubu) on so many initiatives, including the livestock initiative.

“It is a forum (northern) made up of APC and PDP members alongside other parties, including those with no party — the traditional rulers. We sat together and decided that the law was going to be unfair to the north.

“We have no problem whatsoever, even though it is another hardship to the people (plan to increase VAT to 10 percent).

“Nobody is against any initiative. Nobody is worried that VAT is being raised to so and so percentage. We are talking about the sharing formula of the VAT.

“I think whether we are APC, PDP, APGA, or whatever party, we have a right to say we agree with this or disagree. It has nothing to do with disliking anybody.”

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has called on the public with relevant evidence against its pastors accused of homosexuality to present them for investigation.

In a memo dated October 28, 2024, the church announced the indefinite suspension of two youth ministers pending the outcome of the investigations against them.

The memo, signed by Sunday Akande, RCCG’s national overseer, ordered a thorough investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations.

Akande emphasized that the church’s doctrine does not tolerate or allow any act of homosexuality, citing biblical references.

In a statement, according to ChurchTimes, the RCCG urged people with relevant evidence against the pastors to come forward.

The church also provided an email address ([email protected]) and phone number (09039000700) for submitting information. It emphasized that only substantiated evidence will be reviewed.

Ayorinde AdeBello, one of the accused pastors, earlier denied the allegation of homosexuality.

He said he has never engaged in sodomy with male teenagers.

The pastor said his prolonged silence was misconstrued as an “admission of guilt”, prompting his response.

AdeBello also clarified that a viral WhatsApp screenshot being circulated was misquoted and taken out of context.

He claimed the conversation was actually about male reproductive health and self-esteem within a teenagers’ WhatsApp group.

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, expressed surprise over ongoing fuel shortages, given his company’s refinery’s capacity to meet domestic demand. Speaking to State House journalists on Tuesday, Dangote revealed that the refinery has produced a surplus of 500 million liters of petrol that retailers have yet to purchase.

The billionaire businessman made these comments following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and the Implementation Committee on the Sale of Crude and Refined Petroleum Products. He questioned the rationale behind the persistent fuel scarcity despite the ample supply.

“We have enough supply of crude; we can produce much more than 30 million litres every day. At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed.

“As we speak today, we have 500 million litres in our tanks. With 500 million litres in our tanks. This can take the country for more than 12 days with no imports or production; so, we are very ready.

“And you know, I’m also putting my name on the line by giving Mr President my word that, yes, we will be able to supply the market minimum of 30 million per day, and we’ll be ramping up production. So, we’re ready. We’re more than ready.

Speaking further on the shortages and long queues at the filling stations, the African richest man, said that marketers were not coming forward to lift fuel from his refinery.

“One thing that you have to understand is that we are producers. I have a refinery. I’m not in the business of retail. If I’m in the business of retail then you hold me responsible. But what I’m saying is that the retailers should please come forward and pick, if they don’t come forward and pick, what do you want me to do?

“So, I don’t expect either the NNPC or the marketers to stop importing, but the truth is that they should come and pick because we have what they need. And you know, as they remove, I will be pumping. I don’t know whether you understand what it takes to keep half a billion litres inside our tank.

“It’s costing me money every day. If I can collect the naira, I can actually charge somebody 32 percent in interest. Right now, that’s what I’m losing. And we’re talking about 500 million litres, you know, I mean, we don’t print money.

“But the issue is that if they come and collect the product, then you will not see any queues in the filling stations.

“We have what it takes for them to come and collect. We are not retailers. We also don’t have trucks to send the products to the filling stations.

“We have a factory; we have where they can load. They should come and pick what we have… they have been doing that with importation. So, if they’ve been doing that with importation, if it’s true, they are doing 55 million litres, I see no reason why they won’t come and collect our own and distribute”, Dangote said.