Tax reform: Don’t pick me for selective profiling — Bauchi Gov tells Presidency
…Denies threatening Tinubu
By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has denied threatening the President and has warned against what he described as “selective profiling” of his person.
The Governor stated that instead of engaging in selective profiling of well-meaning Nigerians like him and resorting to unproductive name-calling aimed at distracting the public from the unpopular Tax Reform agenda, “we urge the Presidency to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholder groups.”
On December 26, Mohammed had expressed his rejection of the controversial Tax Reform Bill, warning the President against proceeding with the reform, which he argued would negatively impact the North and several other states with economic strength. The Governor also stated that insisting on the reform could result in anarchy, adding that he would reveal their “true colours” if the President moved forward with it.
In response, the Presidency cautioned the Governor to speak as a statesman and urged him to retract his “threat” against President Bola Tinubu. The Presidency also published the accrued allocation to Bauchi State under the current administration.
On Tuesday, Governor Mohammed responded with a five-page statement issued by his Media Aide, Mukhtar Gidado. The statement said that despite the avoidable misunderstanding caused by the proposed tax reform and its poor handling, the Governor assured the Presidency that, in keeping with his reputation as a nationalist and statesman, he remains committed to collaborating with the Federal Government to address national challenges, including the Tax Reform Bill in its current unacceptable form, for the overall growth and development of the country.
Gidado further stated that “it is the height of mischief” to take the Governor’s candid advice on the dangers of proceeding with poor decisions or policies that could worsen the plight of the masses as a threat to the Presidency. He emphasised that it would be out of character for Governor Mohammed to threaten the President or the Presidency, an institution for which he has the greatest respect.
His remarks, Gidado explained, were precautionary and rooted in the deep frustrations caused by the prevailing economic situation. The Governor’s comments were aimed at ensuring that the proposed tax reforms are equitable, inclusive, and sensitive to the unique socio-economic challenges faced by different parts of the country.
The ultimate goal, he added, was to foster dialogue and advocate for policies that protect the interests of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in economically disadvantaged states.
When Governor Mohammed stated that the Presidency’s attempt to force through the discredited tax reforms could lead to anarchy, he was speaking from a position of someone who is close to the populace and carries the mandate of over seven million people in Bauchi State. He also has an intimate knowledge of a significant sub-regional group in the country.
The statement also highlighted that the Governor’s opposition to the tax reforms aligns with the concerns raised by several APC governors who have warned against implementing the reform in its current form.
Gidado accused the Presidency of a “disingenuous attempt at blackmail,” suggesting that the criticism of Mohammed was driven by his affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement went on to challenge the Presidency, stating that if it genuinely wanted an all-inclusive tax reform that would gain the support of various stakeholders and subnational groups, it could have subjected a draft to discussion before pushing it to the National Assembly.
“It did not. Even when the National Economic Council (NEC), a body headed by the Vice President, advised that the reform be reconsidered, that advice was blatantly disregarded,” Gidado said. “So, who is against dialogue?”
He concluded by saying that it was dishonest for the Presidency to accuse Governor Bala Mohammed of adopting an anti-dialogue or unstatesmanlike stance. Gidado affirmed that this was not consistent with the Governor’s record, as he has long been a proponent of national cohesion, constitutionalism, and good governance.
The statement also reminded that, despite occasional criticisms across party lines accusing the Governor of pandering to the interests of the Tinubu Administration, he remains steadfast in promoting good governance and national unity, undeterred by such criticism.
