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•Soludo’s 2nd term will bring more development to Anambra
By Dickson Okafor
Dr Uche Ifediba, National President, Advocacy for Transparent Governance and Promotion Initiative (ATGPI) has expressed optimism that the Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo would fulfill his campaign promise of turning Anambra into the Dubai of Africa, going by his track record as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the transformation of Anambra State within his first four years.
In this interview, he also lauded the airstrikes on terrorists’ enclaves in Sokoto State, just as he commended the federal government’s designation of kidnappers, bandits and violent armed groups as terrorists.
He also examined the new tax laws and its implication on Nigerians as well as the effect of economic reforms and policies of the government, among other issues.
There have been criticisms of the perceived alteration of the new tax law. What is your reaction?
It is the right step in the right direction by the National Assembly to intervene in the controversies rocking the Tax Reform Act. But to me, the timing is wrong because Nigerians are facing economic hardship caused by the economic reforms of the government. The implications of the new tax laws, if implemented on poor Nigerians, are numerous to mention. First, it will increase prices of transport fares, including local airfares.
Also, Nigeria’s constitution is breached if the new tax laws were altered after passage by the National Assembly, hence it then means that the constitution has been violated. So, it is a welcome development for the legislature to have re-directed the Clerk to re-gazette the four tax laws passed recently by the parliament and issue Certified True Copies (CTC) of the versions of the acts passed by the two chambers.
Earlier, Nigerians have called for the suspension, rejection and resistance of the new tax law as a result of the controversies that have emerged in relation to the Act which raises concern about the transparency of the Nigeria’s legislative process. The disturbing revelations are contained in the tax law as gazetted and presented to the public which differs from the version debated and approved by the National Assembly.
However, the controversy has continued to trail the Tax Reform Act after a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki claimed that the gazetted version of the law differs from what was approved by the National Assembly. To worsen the matter, the Chairman of the Tax Reform Committee Taiwo Oyedele said his committee only has the copy of the Act that was gazette and not the official harmonized bill certified by the Clerk of the National Assembly. He made it clear that he does not have the copy from the National Assembly to compare with what was gazette. And transparent investigation should be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the law and restore public confidence in the legislative process. This is the reason the National Assembly has re-directed the Clerk to re-gazette the new tax laws. I insist that this is not the appropriate time that the government should come up with new tax law considering the hardship people are passing through caused by the economic policy of the government. Notwithstanding, government has assured us that 98 per cent of Nigerians will get tax relief, yet majority of Nigerians don’t know where their next meal will come from as families find it difficult to feed. The concern of many Nigerians is not a matter of payment of tax, but they don’t see what the money is used for. So, with new tax laws by President Tinubu, the people would have resisted it if not re-gazetted. This is because any discrepancy between what lawmakers passed and what was officially published amounts to direct assault on democratic principles. Every economy is driven by tax if properly utilized, but that’s not what happens in Nigeria.
The federal government has designated kidnappers, bandits and violent armed groups as terrorists. Do you think with this declaration there is no hiding place for terrorists and other criminal elements in the nation’s forests?
This declaration of kidnappers, bandits, Boko Haram and violent armed groups as terrorists by the Federal Government did not come to Nigerians as a surprise. To many Nigerians, they want to see the government translate the declaration in action. The security situation in Nigeria is like the more you look, the less you see. Therefore, the military and other security agencies should double their efforts to wipe out the criminal elements from the Northern region. However, many fault the conviction of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a terrorist because not even one of the leaders of bandits, Boko Haram and violent armed groups have been tried and convicted. Nnamdi Kanu is agitating against marginalisation of Igbo as IPOB is never a terrorist group, but agitators against inequality and injustice.
What is your take on the acceptance of both chambers of the National Assembly to extend the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget to March 31, 2026, as well as the presentation of the proposed N58.472 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Tinubu?
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Gone are days when Nigerians expected with great hope the presentation of Appropriation Bills, but now it sounds like a mere formality. Because the annual budget has positive effects on the lives of the citizens. Virtually, since 2015 till date security has continued to gulf a chunk of Nigeria’s budget and instead of insecurity being tamed, terrorism, banditry and Boko Haram holds sway in higher dimensions. Again, in the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Tinubu, N5.41 trillion is apportioned to the Ministry of Defence and security. This allocation is the largest single sectoral allocation in the proposed N58.18 trillion to N58.47 trillion budget, reflecting a continued prioritisation of security to combat terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. To many Nigerians, this huge amount will go into private pockets. Thank God for the United States intervention to end killing of innocent Nigerians in the Northern region. If not, the wave of insecurity would have increased because certain persons and groups are benefiting from the security situation. And so it is in the other sectors hence the reason Nigeria’s budget is meaningless to the people. So, in view of the trend, the Federal Government has revealed that 70 per cent of the capital component of the 2026 proposed budget is being rolled over from the 2025 budget. Let’s wait and see if the narrative will change with the appointment of Gen Christopher Musa (retd) as Minister of Defence going by his track record as the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff.
What Nigerians are concerned about is the total elimination of the criminal elements holding the country hostage. If the money being budgeted for security and defence since 2015 is properly utilised, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping would have reduced drastically. We always hear government announce huge amount of money for security, yet the military and other security agencies are complaining of lack of funds. So, President Donald Trump of the United States threat was supported by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu which resulted in the bombing of terrorist camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day by the United States. It is an intervention to end the killing of Nigerian Christians in the North-East, North-West and North- Central by terrorist, bandits and Boko Haram. We all know that insecurity is being sponsored and America has released the list of sponsors of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria. The recent United States airstrike against terrorist is a welcome development to help the government eliminate these criminal elements. Before now you hear some Northern leaders openly defending terrorists, bandits and Boko Haram through campaigns that the federal government should negotiate with them and grant terrorists amnesty. So, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States through security cooperation and intelligent collaboration, have helped in the hit against terrorist target in Nigeria. It is clear that with international collaboration, the killings of innocent Nigerians, especially Christians in the Northern region, will stop and government officials behind it will be fished out and prosecuted.
Some Nigerians, including Northern groups have condemned the airstrikes, saying innocent people were killed. Don’t you think more innocent people will be killed in subsequent operations?
One thing is certain, in the war against terrorists, innocent people are usually victims because these criminal elements use innocent people as cover. It is a pity that some innocent people lost their lives during the US airstrikes in Sokoto State. However, those who are against or have condemned the airstrike are playing armed chair politics. As for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the other opposition parties, they are opponents of the ruling party, APC and they will not support any landmark achievement of President Bola Tinubu. So, I’m not surprised at their reaction.
What is the economic implication of international intervention in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria?
The poor state of Nigeria’s economy has been worsened by insecurity caused by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Boko Haram and banditry that today are designated by the Federal Government as terrorists. Since 2014, the country has spent trillions of naira in the war against terrorism. Again, in the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill, the Ministry of Defence and security took the largest share. The economic policy of any government is a process in spite of how it is coined. So, the economic reforms of the present government have started yielding results with a slight drop in prices of foodstuff. Even though most Nigerians are yet to feel its effect, but with time the impact will be felt by the people. Yes, we know that there is no free meal in Free Town hence the United States involvement in putting an end to the killing of Nigerian Christians in the Northern region must cost Nigeria something. But it doesn’t matter to Nigerians how much is paid to the United States to help us flush out terrorists from the Northern region. Because it is only when we are alive that is when we can talk about money.
Your prediction on Governor Soludo of Anambra came to pass, as he got re-elected. What would you say justified his re-election?
I was fondly called an advocate of Soludo’s re-election by those who heard me explain why Governor Soludo deserved a second term. I was convinced by his remarkable performance within four years in office. My support and that of the people of Anambra State for Soludo’s second term in office was based on what we observed he could do which he actually accomplished in less than four years, hence the reason he was re-elected in order for him to continue the good work he is doing in Anambra State. Soludo brought a sense of strategic direction to all spheres of governance. And his noble interventions on security, infrastructure renewal and institutional reforms which were quite impressive can be seen. With the establishment of Agunechemba Security outfit, the people of Anambra have heaved a sigh of relief as the security outfit has ransacked the hitherto “no-go areas” and rid them of criminal elements. Now they have no place to hide in Anambra State. And as a public affairs analyst, I felt it is my responsibility to acknowledge Governor Soludo’s amiable leadership that is translating plans into tangible improvements of standard of living of the people in the state. My endorsement of Soludo for second term wasn’t motivated by political gains; it was rooted in conviction. Therefore, when progress is real, it deserves to be recognised and commended. That is exactly what I did.
What should the people of the state expect from Governor Soludo now?
Governor Soludo’s first term in office gave a foretaste of what to expect in his second term. However, based on his achievement and track record, his re-election will be a period of deeper impact and accelerated delivery of dividends of democracy. It is crystal clear to us that within four years, elected officials in Nigeria cannot carry out their entire developmental programme and that is the reason why they always seek a second term because four years is too short. Good enough, his road dualisation and several other ongoing projects have been structured to span far into his second tenure. For example, the railway project which is designed to cover the state and the airport sited within an aerotropolis in Ndikelionwu are expected to commence within the period. So, Ndi Anambra should expect more assertive investments in infrastructure, further improvement in the quality of education and healthcare. Also, continued consolidation of security gains and a lot more goodies. Above all, the people expect him to fulfil his campaign which is to turn Anambra State into the Dubai of Africa.
Are you confident the new agreement between the government and the university lecturers (ASUU) would bring stability and peace to our campuses?
The ultimate test of democratic governance is not what leaders promise during campaigns, but what they deliver during their tenure, by that measure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has performed very well within two years of his administration. And I commend him for marching his words with action in the education sector through entering into agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Having met their demand by 40 per cent salary increase, proper university funding, staff welfare and others, these gesture will put an to end to regular nationwide strikes by university lecturers. At least, the hearts of our children – the students – will be at rest and we parents will be able to concentrate, looking for money to pay their school fees. I am sure that this administration may not renege on the agreement with ASUU, but because government is continuous I cannot say if successive government would adhere to the agreement. Meanwhile, time shall tell.
