Secretary of the Eminent Elders Forum, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, has said it is time for the South to call the bluff of the North, saying that the federal policies which favour the North, citing the federal character and quota systems, have drained resources and energy in the South while benefiting only a small group of Northern elite.
Fapohunda said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday while discussing the opposition of Northern leaders to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reform bills, where he also said that the tax reform bills can never work because Nigeria is not a unified country and “cannot be unified at all” because of the different customs and traditions practiced by the different regions, and as such, a unitary tax reform bill cannot be adopted by the whole country.
He said, “The North, at the flip of a switch, are able to shout Northern interest. Southerners are laid back, hoping that oh, we are civilised, we don’t want to talk about tribalism. Tribalism is at play, we are pretentious about this matter. Look, the North has taken us for a ride for too long, they’ve forces federal character on Nigeria over 40 years. They forced quota system on Nigeria over forty years. Have they benefitted from it? Only the tiny clique in the North is holding the whole country to ransom. It’s enough time for Nigeria to wake up, we are not together, North nor South.
“Now they are talking, the elites, the few elites in the North, as if feeding bottle is about to be removed from their mouth. That’s what they’re doing, they’re shouting, they have formed a league now – League of Northern Democrats. The governor of Bauchi was talking, they won’t be able to pay salaries again, they won’t be able to do that.
“Look, the North has damaged Nigeria fundamentally with this attitude. Who are the Nigerians who are japaing now? They’re Southerners. The South invested in education massively in the 50s and the 60s. The products now have been driven out of Nigeria. Can you find a Fulani man in London or in New York practicing medicine or practicing engineering? It’s the Yorubas, the Igbos, Southerners that are marginalised. It’s time to call the bluff of the North, not because we even support what Tinubu is doing, but we have to converse about Nigeria. Nigeria is not – we are pretentious. Let’s go to the brass tacks. That’s why we are calling for regionalisation, the North is separate from the South, that’s just the truth, unless we are deceiving ourselves.”
“This tax matter will not unite Nigerians. If we concede to the North that they get more VAT, for doing what? They got federal character for forty years, what have they done with it? They got quota for forty years, what have they done with it? They’re just being spoilt, they don’t want to wake up to the reality that they’re not doing well, they’re not performing. And when you compromise, you kill the South. The energy is being sucked out of the South in trying to remedy and carry the North along. We should be tired of carrying them along, in all honesty. Somebody has to call their bluff. There’s no alternative to the South calling the bluff of the North,” he added.
Fapohunda also said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is too focused on the implementation of his controversial tax reform bills when there are more urgent issues that Nigeria needs to be resolved.
He said, “The president is not focusing in the right direction. Just one item, one item alone – Inheritance Tax. The North has a different perspective on Sharia. The South-West has different customs. The East has different approach. By trying to do a unitary tax system when we’re all having a different flavour of life, is that not a road to nowhere? On that account alone, I will not really agree on what President Tinubu is trying to do. In all honesty, President Tinubu is focused on this tax matter. That is going to be the mantra of his administration.
“Let’s assume that if the tax bill is passed in the next three, four, five months, what next? Mr President is staking his reputation, his political acumen on the tax bill, but there are many issues he’s supposed to have faced that he’s not talking about. Civil service is blighted. Civil servants are just looking to find a means to survive, they are not operating organically with the government, they are not. Orasanye report, President said he will do it within twelve weeks, he has done nothing about it.”
“In 2023, the president announced a N500 billion agric project, what has happened to it? He didn’t implement it. Now, we have livestock ministry. I know now they are looking for offices in Abuja. When are we going to get the first cow from the livestock ministry? So, overall, the focus on tax bill is totally not what Nigeria should be looking at now. There are more serious fundamental reforms. Tax bill is not the reform that we want. The country has to be reorganised and let all of us live separately, but as good neighbours. We are different, it’s just a fact. We can gloss over it from here to eternity,” he added.
Fapohunda also questioned the feasibility of Tinubu’s tax reform, given Nigeria’s current economic challenges as he said, “The President might use all his authority, all the presidential powers to get it through, and then what? What are the two elements in the tax reform? You are considering no tax to the lowest people, 130 million Nigerians who are destitute, then you want to tax the big companies.
“The big companies are folding up, they are leaving Nigeria, they cannot afford diesel to run generators. Even the ones they manufactured, no sales, there’s poor demand. So who will pay the tax? Is it run down companies that will pay the tax? Anybody earning below 70,000, no tax. Okay, so where is the money coming from? And when the money comes, to be spent on what? To be spent on deficit, to be spent on paying back loans that we have taken, that we have exhausted, that we have stolen, is that it?
“What are we going to use the tax for? It’s not tax that we need. Okay, let him get it through, fine, but is that the end of the tunnel? It is not in my opinion. But the president needs to be advised. It’s now almost two years that he’s been in the saddle. It’s time to think. His presidential chat that he had, he was so cock sure of everything, but that’s not the reality at all, he’s not cock sure. This February, it will be two years since he was elected. It is time to just re appraise issues. He’s hanging in the air, we, on the ground, we’re not feeling what he’s trying to do. He might be well meaning, but he’s not in the right direction at all.”
He then said, “We cannot be united when we’re not equally yoked. We’re unequally yoked, we cannot be united at all. But let everybody just live according to his own worldview, then the temperature will come down. But trying to stay in Abuja and put a package together for the whole country – from the North West to the South East, from the North East to the South West, it’s not going to work.”
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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<<<<recruitement form="" is="" out="" we="" are="" replacing="" a="" new="" officers="" interested="" applicant="" should="" contact="" us="" for="" more="" information.;="">>><VEHICLES @ RICES
THIS INFORMATION IS FROM THE NIGERIA PORT AUTHORITY FOR AUCTION >Custom Auctions Is Up Again and Granting Nigerians the
Privilege to Own Vehicles at Affordable RatesFOR MORE INFORMATION Call or message on WhatsApp(Officer Omar Patrick)) 07O ___-6875 __-7992
RICE AVAILABLE FOR SALES ARE :-
MamaGold=30,500
Royal umbrella=30,500
Mama Gold=30,500
Rising sun=30,500
Mama Africa=30,500
Elephant Gold=30,500
Caprice =30,500
NOTE: Delivery fee IS (#5000) which must be paid before we ensure your delivery..
*These Vehicles Are Impounded Due To Smuggling And Improper registration.*
*These Vehicles Are Direct Tokunbo and Has Never Been Used In Nigeria.*.For any purchase
Call the officer((Omar Patrick))
07O -6875 _-7992
#TOYOTA
TOYOTA CAMRY ₦2.2 650,000
TOYOTA CAMRY ₦2.4 850,000
TOYOTA COROLLA ₦900,000
TOYOTA MATRIX ₦800,000
TOYOTA SIENNA ₦950,000
TOYOTA RAV4 ₦1.2 MILLION
TOYOTA VENZA ₦3.5 MILLION
TOYOTA CAMRY SPIDER ₦1.8 MILLION
TOYOTA HIACE BUS ₦2.5 MILLION
TOYOTA PRADO ₦4 MILLION
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ₦1.8 MILLION
•Toyota Land Cruiser-N1.3m
•Toyota Prado N1.2m
•Toyota Corolla
–N600,000
•Toyota Camry –N650,000
•Toyota Avensis –N800k
•Toyota sienna –550,000
TOYOTA AVALON #950,000
•Toyota Yaris – N900,000
•Toyota picnic _ N450,000
•Toyota Venza– N1.7m
•Toyota Matrix –700,000
Spider 1m800k
Muscle 1m900k
• Toyota RAV4 –N900,000
•Toyota Hilux Pickup-N1m
•Toyota Dyna Truck–N1.3million
•Toyota 4 Runner–N1m
tundra 2.670,000
tacoma 2.5Million
•Toyota Hiace Bus –N1.5m
•Toyota Highlander-N1.2m
•Toyota Big daddy-800k
Toyota Camry Big Daddy=N550,000.
Toyota Camry Tiny-Light=N400,000.
Toyota Avenza =N950,000. To 1.3 million
Toyota Hilux=N 1.2 million
Toyota Avensis=N450,000.
Toyota Camry Muscle=N 600,000. & Spider=N650,000.
Toyota Avalon=N600,000.
Toyota Rav4 SUV=N850,000.
Toyota Sienna=N600,000.
Toyota 4Runner=N800,000.
Toyota Tundra=N 1.8 Million
Toyota picnic=N450,000.
Toyota Highlander=N1m550,000. to 2m
Toyota Corolla=N500,000.
Toyota Prado=N950,000. To 3.4 million
Toyota LandCruisser=N950,000. to 3m
Toyota Yaris=N750.000.
Toyota Matrix=N550,000.
Toyota Haice Bus=N 950,000 to N 1.3 Million
Toyota Camry 2.4M Tiny-Light ₦850.000
Toyota Camry Big-Daddy ₦950.000
Toyota Camry Muscle ₦1.2M
Toyota Camry Spider ₦1.3M
Toyota Avalon ₦2.2M
Toyota Avensis ₦1.2M
Toyota Corolla ₦950.000
Toyota Yaris ₦1.2M
Toyota Matrix ₦900.000
Toyota Picnic ₦1.1M
Toyota Sienna ₦2.1M
Toyota Venza ₦3.2M
Toyota Rav4 ₦1.1M
Toyota 4Runner ₦1.8M
Toyota Hiace-Bus ₦2.9M
Toyota Highlander ₦2.3M
Toyota Land Cruiser ₦4.6M
Toyota Tundra ₦4.8M
Toyota Prado ₦5.3M
#HONDA
HONDA ACCORD ₦700,000
HONDA PILOT ₦1.2 MILLION
HONDA EOD ₦850,000
HONDA ODYSSEY ₦1MILLION
Honda Baby Boy= ₦780,000
Honda Accord EOD= ₦950,000
Honda City= ₦750,000
Honda Crosstour= ₦1.2M
Honda CR-V= ₦950k
Honda Odyssey= ₦850,000
Honda Pilot= ₦1Million
Honda Pilot=N950,000.
Honda Baby Boy=N500,000.
Honda End of Discussion(EOD)=N550,000.
Honda Accord=N500,000.
Honda CRV=N800,000.
Honda Accord ₦950,000
Honda City ₦850,000
Honda Civic ₦950.000
Honda C-RV ₦1.5M
Honda Crosstour ₦1.2M
Honda Element ₦950.000
Honda Evilspirit ₦1.1M
Honda Odyssey ₦1.2M
Honda Pilot ₦2.3M
*Prices of some Volswagen cars:
Golf 2-250,000
Golf 3-N300,000
Golf4-350,000
Golf 5 -N550,000
Jetta-N350,000
Passat-N450,000
#LEXUS
LEXUS Es300 ₦1.3 MILLION
LEXUS Es330 ₦1.6 MILLION
LEXUS Es350 ₦2 MILLION
LEXUS Rx300 ₦1.7 MILLION
LEXUS Rx330 ₦3 MILLION
LEXUS Rx350 ₦4 MILLION
LEXUS RX400 ₦3.5 MILLION
LEXUS GX460 ₦4 MILLION
LEXUS GX470 ₦5 MILLION
LEXUS ES300@#1.3 MILLION
LEXUS ES330@#1.6 MILLION
LEXUS ES350@#2 MILLION
LEXUS RX300@#1.7 MILLION
LEXUS RX330@#3 MILLION
LEXUS RX350@#4 MILLION
LEXUS RX400@#3.5 MILLION
LEXUS GX460@#4 MILLION
LEXUS GX470@#5 MILLION
Lexus GX460=₦6.6M
Lexus GX470=₦8.4M
Lexus GX570=₦13.8M
Lexus IS-250=₦2.1M
Lexus ES-330=₦1.5M
Lexus ES-350=₦2.6M
Lexus RX300= ₦1.5M
Lexus RX330= ₦2.8M
Lexus RX350= ₦3.2M.
Lexus Rx300=N800,000. To N2.1 Million
Lexus Rx330=N850,000 To N2.2 Million
Lexus Rx350=N900,000 To N3.3 Million
Lexus Rx470=N3.m
Lexus Rx330 ₦2.1M
Lexus Rx350 ₦4.1M
Lexus Rx400 ₦5.4M
Lexus Gx470₦7M
#MERCEDES
MERCEDES C240 ₦1.3 MILLION
MERCEDES C300 ₦1.7 MILLION
MERCEDES ML350 ₦2.8 MILLION
MERCEDES GLK350 ₦3.8 MILLION
MERCEDES GL470 ₦4 Million.etc.
BENZ C-CLASS ₦3,000,000
MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 250 4.6M
MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class ₦3,500,000
MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class ₦4,000,000
MERCEDES-BENZ GLK ₦4,500,000
MERCEDES BENZ ML₦5,000,000
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦1.5 million
Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦1.7 million
Mercedes-Benz G-Class ₦2.5 million
Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦3.5 Million
Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4.8MILLION
Mercedes Benz ML350 ₦2.3 million
Mercedes Benz g-wagon ₦125 million.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦3.5M
Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦3.9M
Mercedes-Benz G-Class ₦3.8M
Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦4.6M
Mercedes Benz ML₦5.6M
Nissan pathfinder= ₦1.9M
Nissan Altima= ₦1.820,000
Nissan Armanda= ₦1.2M
Nissan Murano 950,000
Nissan Murano=N850,000. to N 1.2 Million
Nissan Pathinder=N800,000. To N 1 million
Nissan Altima=N800,000.
Nissan Maxima=N600,000.
Nissan Altima ₦1.2M
Nissan Armada ₦2.3M
Nissan Maxima N1M
Nissan Murano ₦1.4M
Nissan Primera ₦900,000
Nissan Pathfinder ₦1.5M
Nissan Maxima= ₦1.600,000.e.t.c.
Range rover vogue 8mill
Range rover sport HSE 4.8m
Land rover 3.3m
Land Rover Discovery ₦4.8M
Land Rover Freelander ₦5.5M
Land Rover Vogue ₦5.2M
Range Rover Sport. ₦5.5M
Acura ZDX 1.550,000
Acura MDX 1.6m
Acura TL ₦1.2M
Acura MDX ₦2.2M
Acura ZDX ₦1.9M
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Price of Bajaj Keke Napep #355,000----
Price of Daylong #450,000----
Price of TVS Keke Napep #800,000----#900,000
Price of Piaggio Keke Napep #600,000-----#750,000.
👉 CONTACT (Officer Omar Patrick) 07O -6875 _-7992
Bags of cement #5,500
Delivery cost is #1,000
EVERY BUYER IS EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE DOCUMENTS OF THE VEHICLES BEFORE THE DELIVERY WILL COMMENCE!!!!WE DELIVER NATION WIDE NOTICE INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT IS ALLOWED!!! ONLY INTERESTED BUYERS SHOULD CONTACT: THE OFFICER(( Omar Patrick)) 07O -6875 _-7992THANKS FOR PATRONIZING WITH US.📞📞〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽..〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.〽.