Elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Edwin Clark, says the proposed tax reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu must proceed.
This is as he called out the governors of the northern states over their opposition to the tax reform bills which are currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking during the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Clark said most of the northern governors don’t know what they are doing.
“As far as I am concerned, that tax bill must go on.
“I was so shocked when I learned that the 19 governors of the north have met again. If 36 of you met, why are you meeting again? The northern governors, most of them, don’t realise what they are doing. So, the double standards, this arrogance of power must stop,” he said.
The leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) lamented that certain persons want the country to be run based on their own terms.
“…Certain individuals want to run this country as their own country. When they decide to share, they must ask where the money they are sharing comes from. So, you must pay tax,” he added.
Clark also called out the National Economic Council (NEC), under the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima, for overstepping their boundary.
He said NEC has turned itself into an executive body playing politics with the country instead of being an advisory body to the President.
The Ijaw national leader also accused the state governors of abandoning their respective states and staying in Abuja just because they want to get more money for themselves.
“I was shocked when the 36 governors under the chairmanship of the vice president discussed that Mr President should set aside the bill for further consultation. Not only that, the 19 northern governors came together and met but they should ask themselves what have we gained for dividing Nigeria. 19 governors, 17 governors, Today you have Progressive Governors, PDP Governors. These are not helping Nigeria.
“That body (NEC) is a constitutional body set up by the constitution of Nigeria as an advisory council under the chairmanship of Mr Vice President should meet with all the governors attending but today the governors have converted that council to an executive body. They have now gone into politics.
“The question is who are they going to consult? How many times have they consulted their people? They don’t stay at home. They are always in Abuja thinking that they will get more money,” he said.