Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, has called on the national assembly to reject any attempts to “cheat” the north through the proposed tax reform bills.
Kwankwaso made this statement on Sunday during the convocation ceremony of Skyline University at the Ammani Centre, Nassarawa GRA, Kano state.
He accused Lagos of “making a lot of efforts” to colonise the north, and further alleged that the president, who hails from Lagos, is interfering in the emirship dispute in Kano.
“The Emir has just been installed at this difficult time in our country, especially in this part of the country, northern Nigeria,” he said.
“Today, we can see very clearly that there is a lot of effort from the Lagos axis to colonise this part of the country.”
“Today, Lagos wouldn’t allow us to choose our Emir. Lagos has to come to the centre of Kano to put their own Emir.”
“Today, we are aware that the Lagos young men are working so hard to impose and take away our taxes from Kano and this part of the country to Lagos.”
The Kano emirship is currently the subject of litigation. Muhammadu Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano in May, but Aminu Bayero, who was previously removed to make way for Sanusi, has refused to step aside.
Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, also claimed that many factory owners have been “forced” to relocate their headquarters to Lagos, enabling the southwest state to claim “all the taxes.”
“We have seen the effort of some people to make the poor poorer and the rich richer. And I believe this is very dangerous for us,” Kwankwaso said.
“This part of the country today is suffering from a serious economic crunch, insecurity, poverty, hunger, and diseases.”
“I believe this is not good for the cordial existence of our country. At this moment, I would like to call on all our national assembly members to keep their eyes open so that they don’t do anything that will cheat the people of northern Nigeria, especially here in Kano.”
“We are witnesses to what happened during the first term of Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2003, where our members of the national assembly were bribed into collecting a huge sum of money to support onshore/offshore in the country.”
“That law put a huge blow on our economy in northern Nigeria and all other states.”
On October 3, President Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.
These proposed legislations, which have sparked intense debate, include the Nigeria tax bill, the tax administration bill, and the joint revenue board establishment bill.
The president also requested the parliament repeal the law establishing the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and replace it with the Nigeria Revenue Service.
On October 28, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) opposed the bills, arguing that the proposed legislation would harm the region’s interests. The governors asked the national assembly to reject the bills, calling for the equitable and fair implementation of national policies across all regions.
The National Economic Council (NEC) also urged Tinubu to withdraw the bills to allow for further consultations.
On November 1, President Tinubu stated that the bills would not be withdrawn, emphasizing that the proposed laws are designed to improve the lives of Nigerians and optimise existing tax frameworks.
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