QAs the debates over the four tax reform bills that President Bola Tinubu sent to the National Assembly continue, plans by those opposed to the reforms to blackmail lawmakers have been exposed.
The anti-tax reforms camp is reportedly set to activate a new phase of blackmailing northern Senators, House of Representatives members and other political figures who support the bills with accusations of betraying their religious affiliation.
A source familiar with the plot, who craves anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity, revealed that “some Islamic scholars will be bringing new cases and new dimensions to the tax reform bills this week. They have decided to blackmail Senators and Reps members that whoever supports the bills will not be re-elected because the masses in the north would be told that they have betrayed their faith.”
He further revealed that additional public sentiments would be incited against President Tinubu, who would be accused of accepting to allow France to build a military base in Nigeria after being expelled from neighbouring francophone countries.
President Tinubu was on a state visit to France in the last week of November, during which Nigeria and France signed several key agreements on Infrastructure and Agriculture, Financial and Technical Assistance, Banking Operations, Renewable Energy and Human Capital Development, aimed at strengthening economic ties and foster long-term collaboration between the two countries.
The source said, “The clerics will also accuse President Tinubu, that he is too western and is about to bring France to be based in Nigeria by agreeing for the country to build a military base here after being chased out of Niger, Mali and Chad. They will also do this within this week, likely leveraging their sermons in key northern cities. Their thinking is that this could incite people to the point of triggering protests.”
Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi had on Monday backed the tax reform bills, which he described as beneficial for Nigerians despite opposition from Northern leaders.
The deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, Honourable Philip Agbese, previously disclosed that some state governors threatened to deny Senators and House of Representatives members return tickets in the 2027 General Elections if they support the tax reform bills. Some lawmakers denied the claim.
