By Ola Williams
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former two-term governor of Kano State, has strongly criticized the proposed tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.
He described them as a deliberate strategy by “entities” in Lagos to exploit and dominate northern Nigeria economically and politically.
Speaking in Kano, Kwankwaso accused certain individuals in government of perpetuating inequality in the country. “There are conscious and deliberate efforts to make the poor poorer and the rich richer. This development is not only dangerous but also harmful to our nation’s unity,” he stated.
Kwankwaso further alleged that Lagos-based interests are encroaching on northern autonomy, particularly in Kano.
“Today, we can see very clearly that there is a lot of effort from the Lagos axis to colonize this part of the country. Lagos wouldn’t allow us to choose our Emir; they had to come to the center of Kano to impose their own Emir,” he said.
He also claimed that Lagos interests are targeting the North’s resources through taxation. “Lagos young men are working so hard to impose and take away our taxes from Kano and this part of the country to Lagos.
This part of the country is already suffering from economic crunch, insecurity, poverty, hunger, and diseases. Such actions are detrimental to the cordial existence of our country.” Kwankwaso urged lawmakers to reject the bills, warning against decisions that could undermine northern Nigeria.
He drew parallels with the onshore/offshore dichotomy debate during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, accusing northern legislators of being bribed to support a law that significantly hurt the region’s economy.
“We are witnesses to what happened between 1999 and 2003 when members of the National Assembly were bribed into supporting policies that dealt a huge blow to the economy of northern Nigeria. This must not happen again,” Kwankwaso warned.
Kwankwaso’s concerns are echoed by the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), which recently rejected the tax reform bills during a crucial meeting.
The forum declared that the proposals would harm the North’s economic interests and called on the National Assembly to reject them. Similarly, the National Economic Council (NEC) urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the bills for broader consultations.
However, President Tinubu defended the reforms, insisting that the National Assembly should deliberate on the proposals, which he argued aim to enhance Nigerians’ lives and optimize the tax system.
As tensions rise over the controversial bills, northern leaders are rallying to ensure their region’s interests are protected amid growing fears of economic marginalization.
