Follow Us on Google
By Omoniyi Salaudeen
Dr Akin Ojo, has applauded the policy reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In this interview, he specifically expressed support for the new tax law, which continues to generate controversy across the country.
How have Nigerians fared under the Tinubu administration?
No President has ever released as much money as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done for state governors. Regrettably, the money is not getting to the grassroots. He needs to put eyes on them to ensure that the money is being used for the development of the grassroots. Beyond that, he has given priority to the development of infrastructure, building concrete roads padded with iron. It’s the first of its kind. I haven’t seen it done by any previous government. For sustenance of his good work, I think people should embrace the new tax policy to enable the government to generate more funds for development. The tax law aims to reduce burden on the low income earners as against the old system that allowed tax evasion. You can imagine some people having several billions of naira in account, while others are struggling to eat. Yet, the rich don’t want to pay tax. Can you live in the UK or America without paying tax? People should be ready to pay tax and government too should spend money judiciously.
A lot of people have linked the high cost of living in the country to fuel subsidy removal. What do you think?
We cannot be doing the same thing in the same old way and expect to get a different result. The benefit of fuel subsidy removal is the increase in federal allocation to the states. In the past, the payment of subsidy only benefitted a few cabals who had access to the corridor of power. Now that the subsidy has been removed, more money has been made available to states to develop. The reason we have not seen much development at the grassroots is because local governments are not getting enough funding. State governors are starving them of funds. And that is why the Federal Government is pushing for the autonomy of local government which governors have been frustrating. If local governments are empowered, there will be faster development at the grassroots because people will hold their chairmen accountable for the money released to them. The National Assembly should join hands with the Federal Government by passing the relevant laws that would ensure that local government autonomy becomes a reality.
Other News
How will there be effective supervision of local governments if states are compelled to hand off the affairs of local government?
That is where the issue of auditor comes in. Besides, the EFCC and ICPC are there to keep an eye on local government chairmen. It is the responsibility of councillors to know how chairmen are managing public fund.
How do you see the performance of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji?
Governor Oyebanji is doing very well. One of his landmark achievements is the completion of the airport. His youth empowerment is also commendable. Though elected on the platform of the APC, he relates well with everybody, including the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is a man of the people. I am particularly impressed that he renovated our royal palace. That shows his grassroots connection with the people. No one can do it all. He has done his best. As they say, you can only do your best and leave the rest.
Finally, permit me use this opportunity to congratulate our royal father, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, on his 80th birthday anniversary and 35 years on the throne. Celebrating 80 years is a significant milestone and I wish him many more fruitful years with good health. Baba is a highly respected monarch who has been on the throne for 35 years. He’s known for his wisdom, humility, and commitment to community development and peace-building. Under his reign, Ado-Ekiti has experienced significant socio-cultural renewal, communal harmony, and economic growth.
Because of my closeness to Baba, I can describe him as someone who wants progress for everybody, regardless of where you come from. His accommodation of Hausa, Igbo, and other tribes accounts for the peaceful coexistence with the indigenes. For example, if you sold land to a non-indigene and you want to resell it, Baba will never allow it to happen. He is a very calm, honest, and selfless person. So also is our royal mother, the Eyesorun, Olori Abosede Adejugbe Aladesanmi, who plays a complementary role. She is over 70 years. I pray she lives long and celebrates many more years.
