Borno Emir Says Tax Reform Bill Worst Than Boko Haram, Backs Ndume ,Zulum On Rejection

By Melvin Uche

The Emir of Askira, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Askirama has said that the proposed tax reform bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be worst than Boko Haram insurgency which has impoverished the people of Northeast if passed by the National Assembly and assented by the President.

The Emir who stated this while hosting the Senator representing southern Borno senatorial district at the senate , Sen. Ali Ndume at his palace at the weekend during the Senator’s constituency tour of the senatorial district ,commended the lawmaker, and Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum for rejecting the bill, and defending the course of the poor masses.

He noted that the State Governor and lawmaker stance on the tax reform bill depicts their love for the cause of the common man.

The monarch also lamented the serial attacks carried out by Boko Haram terrorists in the recent time in his dormain, and called on President Tinubu and the Nigerian military to expedite action and end the Killings of innocent residents of Askira and surrounding communities.

Alhaji Askirama equally lamented the backwardness of the youths in Askira- Uba local government on education and called on the federal government to establish a higher institution such as a polytechnic in Askira to bridge the education gap in the council, and nearby local government areas, and further appealed to the federal government to deploy more troops in the area to halt the persistent attacks in the areas by the terrorists.

He appreciated the Senator’s gesture of touring the senatorial district and commended his quality representation to the people ,and assured him of support of his people in his activities.

Responding , Senator Ndume told the monarch, Alhaji Mohammed Askirama, that he was in his domain to keep the people and the youths abreast of the present economic hardship bedevilling the country, reiterating that the only way out of it is for the people to return to agriculture.

He urged youths and people of the senatorial district to embrace agricultural and business activities to beat looming food crisis and rising cost of living bedeveiling the people of the country.

Ndume said amid the global economic crunch, the only escape from hunger is for the people to engage in massive farming than relying on government and salaries, noting that the present minimum wage of N70,000 can’t afford a bag of rice sold for over N100,000, as well as a bag of beans that goes for N200,000.

He reminded the people that prior to the coming of the present administration, a litre of fuel was sold for N200, but has risen to N1200, while US dollars exchange rate to Naira, which stood at N600 then is now exchanged for N1600, hence he called on the people to switch to agriculture and trading to defeat the raging economic hardship.

Ndume, who began his constituency visit with Gwoza, charged the youths who were assembled at the Emir of Gwoza’s palace to take responsibility for security in the area and expose Boko Haram collaborators in their midst.

He noted that the terrorists could not have found their way to carry out attacks in some of the communities in Gwoza and other areas of southern Borno without informants, who are giving information to the terrorists, and urged the youths to deal with such collaborators before handing them over to the security agencies.

The senator commended the youths and residents of Gwoza for their resilience despite the activities of the terrorists in some areas of the local government area, and assured them that government is doing everything possible to ensure absolute return of peace in the areas for effective development.

He commended the state governor, Babagana Zulum, for resettling eleven communities previously displaced by Boko Haram terrorists in the Gwoza local government. He added that the governor is working hard to resettle the Ashigarsya, Hambagda, Wala, and Yamtake communities of the council.

At the emir of Uba palace, Senator Ndume urged youths in southern Borno to as well embrace education, saying that the certificate obtained could be useful, even while the youths engage in other activities, such as agriculture or vocational skills to augment their livelihoods.

Responding, the emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Manza, thanked God for bringing Senator Ndume safely to his domain and commended him for all the good work he has been doing for the people.

He appealed to the people of his domain to embrace agriculture and business as advised by the senator for prosperity and self sustainability, and appealed to government to train youths in the area on vocational skills and business.

Senator Ndume who also visited Damboa and Chibok local government areas as part of tour of his district also warned the youths against collaboration with Boko Haram terrorists and noted that the terrorists are succeeding in their atrocities because some of the residents of the areas are providing information to the terrorists.

He noted that some female residents of the Gwoza local government area are even taking food condiments to the terrorists under the guise of going to farm ,hence he called for change of attitude from such character.

He said the collaboration with the terrorists is the reason some pockets of attacks are still being carried out in four local government areas of southern Borno such as Gwoza, Damboa, Askira-Uba and some part of Biu.

Borno Emir Says Tax Reform Bill Worst Than Boko Haram, Backs Ndume ,Zulum On Rejection