Bauchi gov denies threatening Tinubu, insists on stance against tax reforms

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has denied threatening the President saying that his statement was taken as a threat but has respect for the presidency.

However, Mohammed insisted that the tax reform bills before the National Assembly are skewed to favour only one section of the country over others, and he would not be intimidated to backtrack.

Mohammed had on December 26 rejected the controversial Tax Reform Bills, warning the President against proceeding with the reform while alerting that the bill was against the North and many other states with weak economy.

Arguing that insistence on the bills might result in anarchy, he added that the North would show their “true colour” if the President proceeded with the reform.

The governor was cautioned by the Presidency to always speak as a statesman and retract his “threat” on the President. The Presidency also published the accrued allocation to the state under the present administration.

Responding yesterday via a five-page statement by his Media Aide, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor said despite the avoidable misunderstanding generated by the proposed tax reform due to its poor handling, “we assure the Presidency that, in keeping with his reputation as a nationalist and statesman, Governor Bala Mohammed remains committed to collaborating with the Federal Government to address all national challenges, including the Tax Reform Bills in its present unacceptable form, for the overall development of our dear country.

“It is the height of mischief that Governor Mohammed’s candid advice on the dangers of proceeding with bad decisions or policies that could worsen the plight of the masses has been taken, out of context, as a threat to the Presidency. It would have been out of character for him to threaten the President or the Presidency, an institution for which he has the greatest respect.”

According to Gidado, his principal’s remarks were essentially precautionary, given the deep-seated frustrations caused by the prevailing economic situation, and were aimed at ensuring that the proposed tax reforms are equitable, inclusive and sensitive to the unique socio-economic challenges of the constituent parts of the country.

But speaking on Channels TV later yesterday, Mohammed insisted on his earlier stance.

“I cannot be threatened as a governor. I stand by my comments. It is not meant to malign, insult or to do anything to the contrary other than mean well,” Mohammed said on Channels Television‘s 2024 Year-End Review programme.

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum warned that the Presidency should not be arrogant but listen to the people, stressing that the proposed tax bills, if passed, would have “concomitant effects” and threaten the survival of the sub-nationals and impoverish them.

“We believe that as the leader of the federation and all other federating units, they should listen to us, not to be arrogant and showing some elements of impunity that whatever happens, they would go ahead,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed faulted the Presidency’s “undemocratic” stance on the tax bills, saying that even those with military backgrounds would have listened to the people and addressed the “areas of suspicion and mistrust” in the proposed piece of legislation.

He said some states should not be allowed to die because they do not have the headquarters of companies in Nigeria.