Nobody can accuse me of having companies or mansions anywhere in the country – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will want to be remembered as the president who stabilised Nigeria in the areas of security, economic prosperity and triumph over corruption.
The president stated this at a townhall meeting with South East leaders during his one-day official visit to Imo on Thursday.
According to him, with less than two years left in his eight-year tenure as president, security still remains a major priority for his administration.

‘‘If there is no security, there is nothing anyone can do no matter how much you try or the initiative you have.

‘‘Security is number one priority and then the economy. When people feel secured they will mind their own business,’’ he said.
Buhari told the South-East leaders that while fighting corruption in Nigeria had become very sophisticated and difficult, he would continue to strive to leave a lasting legacy of integrity and accountability in the system.
‘‘Nobody can accuse me of having companies or mansions anywhere in the country and I thank God that I try to keep myself as clean as possible, so that I cannot be taken hostage.

‘‘I will do my best to ensure that Nigerians that try hard, succeed in their efforts,’’ he said
On the forthcoming 2023 elections, the president reaffirmed his commitment to free, fair and credible polls.

He, however, urged the leaders to honestly educate their constituents on the need to hold their elected representatives accountable.

While acknowledging the resourcefulness and enterprising spirit of Igbo people, the president said:

‘‘The fundamental thing about the Igbo people is that there is no town you will visit in Nigeria without seeing the Igbo being in-charge of either infrastructure or pharmaceutical industry.

‘‘Therefore, it is unthinkable for me that any Igbo man would consider himself not to be a part of Nigeria.

‘‘The evidence is there for everyone to see that Igbo are in charge of Nigeria’s economy.’’

The president, who expressed regret that successive governments at the federal level contributed to the decay of critical infrastructure in the country, said no country could make any meaningful progress without the development of infrastructure.

He promised that the Federal Government would complete ongoing key projects in the South East, including the 2nd Niger Bridge as well as the railway lines and routes linking the region with other parts of the country.

‘‘I firmly believe that when you get infrastructure right, Nigerians will mind their own businesses,’’ he said, adding that as a group, the Igbos stand to benefit more from the ongoing development of infrastructure in the country because ‘‘they are more enterprising’’.

Buhari had earlier inaugurated four projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodinma, including the Naze/Ihiagwa/Nekede/Obinze link road, the Balloon Driven/Flood Control drainage at Dick Tiger Road, the Egbeada Bypass road and the New Exco-Chambers, Government House, Owerri.

Addressing Imo residents at the Egbeada bypass named after a prominent son of the state, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the president said he was very impressed with the level of work done by the state government.

‘‘I am very pleased with what I have seen and I assure you that I will support Imo State within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said.

In his remarks at the townhall meeting, Uzodimma said Ndigbo believed in a united Nigeria predicated on ‘‘justice, equity and fairness’’.

He thanked the president for addressing the interests of Ndi Igbo through deliberate policy initiatives designed to give the people a true sense of belonging, including the ongoing construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, among others.

Uzodimma said the people of South East would remain grateful to the president for approving the establishment of a Naval Base in Oguta Local Government Area of the state, adding that as time unfolds, the economic benefits of the base will manifest.

The governor also commended the president for strongly supporting the appointment of two prominent Igbos into two key international organisations – Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General of Health Emergency Intelligence, World Health Organisation (WHO).

In his remarks, the President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor, assured the president of the continuous support of Ndigbo.

‘‘Ndigbo are committed to Nigerian unity and there is news for those trying to push us out of Nigeria.

‘‘Ndigbo in Nigeria are like fish in the ocean and no matter how rough the storm is, it cannot drive the fish out of the ocean.

‘‘Mr President, it is in this context, that we see a new dawn in your distinguished presence in Igbo land and believe that on your return to Abuja the significance and substance of this visit will form new foundation of a platform for meaningful dialogue on critical issues of concern to the Igbo nation,’’ he said.

WIKE, FIRS FIGHT DIRTY OVER VALUE ADDED TAX

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike , on Wednesday that that N15.1bn was collected as taxes in June but N4.7bn was given to Rivers State.

‘’In June N15.1bn was collected as taxes in Rivers State but N4.7bn was given to Rivers State, N46.4bn was collected from Lagos State but Lagos was given N9.3bn. Kano generated N2.8bn and was given N2.8bn. Have you seen the injustice in this Country? I will not be Governor forever; it’s not about me but about the system.
Let the right thing be done’’.

He said the state filed the Value Added Tax (VAT) collection action against FIRS and the Office of the Attorney General representing the Federal Government in 2020.

‘’In July 2021, the Chairman of FIRS wrote to the National Assembly through the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to amend the Constitution and empower the Federal Government to collect VAT. They knew what they were doing was unconstitutional that’s why they wrote for the constitution to be amended to Include VAT in the exclusive legislative list’’.
‘’This was exactly what we were challenging in Court. so they tried to include it through the back door. Corruption is not only about people collecting money, corruption is also doing things illegally’’ Wike said..

Earlier in a statewide broadcast, Wike said following the recent judgement of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, which upheld the constitutional right and authority of State Governments to impose, collect and utilize value added taxes (VAT) within their respective territorial jurisdictions, the Rivers State Government enacted the Rivers State Value Added Tax Law 2021 to regulate the effective administration of VAT in Rivers State.

‘’ As expected, the Federal Government, through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), disagreed and filed an appeal coupled with a request for stay-of-execution of the judgment before the Federal High Court. While the appeal was pending and without any stay-of-execution of the subsisting judgement, the FIRS went about to bully corporate bodies and business entities from paying the VAT to the Rivers State Government even when they knew that an appeal does not serve as a stay neither was there anything to stay in a declaratory judgement.

He described FIRS as a mere agency of the Federal Government without any political authority.

‘’The effrontery and impunity exhibited by the FIRS against the Rivers State Government was ill-advised and highly provocative. However, being a government that believes in the rule of law we decided on our own to suspend the enforcement of the Rivers State VAT Law 2021 pending the outcome of the FIRS’s application for stay-of-execution’’.

He stated that the FIRS failed in its attempt to frustrate the enforcement of the State’s Law on VAT with the Federal High Court’s dismissal of its application for stay-of-execution of the judgement.

‘’It is important to reiterate the fact that we did no wrong in exercising our legal right under our constitutional democracy to stop the continuing breach, denial and curtailment of the constitutional right of States to lawfully impose and collect value added and other related taxes within jurisdiction to the exclusion of the Federal Government.. And in doing so our singular and progressive objective was to contribute to the advancement of fiscal federalism by enabling the federating States to explore and exploit their potential and capacity for generating greater internal revenues with which to fund their development goals and reduce the outdated over-reliance on pitiable Federal allocation and other handouts’’
.
Some States with presently low economic activities and ethically restrictive social policies with economic implications, Wike said may be adversely affected for now.

‘’This is not our own making. Like the right to derivation, this is also a constitutional prescription, which we all swore as political leaders to respect and defend as the supreme law of the land.
11. Above all, fiscal federalism remains the right path to economic self-reliance and sustainability for all our States and the benefits derivable from this case by all the States in the long run far outweigh the immediate revenue loss that some States may presently suffer. . All that is required is for all of us to wear our thinking caps as elected Governors to collectively fight for the greater devolution of resources, responsibilities and powers to the federating States.

He condemned some State Governors led by that of Katsina State for conspiring to truncate this progressive reality in favour of the inequitable status quo so that the Federal Government can continue to rob Peter to pay Paul as the nation’s self-imposed tax master-general.

‘’For us in Rivers State, we will continue to ensure and project our constitutional rights to access all possible resources we can take hold both within and outside our geographical boundaries to advance the progress of our State.

‘’And with today’s judgement the way is now clear for the administration and enforcement of the Rivers State Value Added Tax Law 2021 across the entire State until otherwise decided and set aside by the Superior Courts.

The governor directed the Rivers State Revenue Service (RSRS) to ensure the full and total implementation and enforcement of this law against all corporate bodies, business entities and individuals with immediate effect.

‘’All corporate bodies, business entities and individuals are advised to willingly, truthfully and promptly comply with their tax obligations under this law to avoid the full weight of the stipulated sanctions, including having their business premises sealed-up.

‘’The Rivers State Government is fully in charge of the State and will not tolerate any further attempt by the FIRS to sabotage or undermine our authority to freely administer our tax and other related laws in our own State. Those who play with fire risks having their fingers burnt. Enough of the shenanigans’’.

‘’I wish to further assure every resident that we shall as usual make effective use of the expected proceeds from this tax to accelerate the development of our State and improve the wellbeing of everyone.
‘’Fellow citizens, let me also draw your attention to the alarming rate of transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic in our State.
20. The daily figures released form the NCDC show that both the transmission and death rates in the last two weeks have consistently been on a rising spiral because residents and visitors to the State have largely abandoned their responsibility to comply with the existing COVID-19 Protocols.

‘’ Clearly, we are headed for a serious health disaster of profound consequences if residents and visitors continue to behave as if the pandemic no longer exists or impotent in Rivers State.

‘’This is a big lie and we cannot afford to continue to close our eyes to the dangers such irresponsible behaviour poses to the health, lives and livelihood of everyone.

‘’Accordingly, I wish to remind residents of the subsisting protocols on regular washing of hands and use of alcohol-based sanitizer; maintaining social distancing; wearing of face masks at all public places, including transport vehicles and going for immediate testing and treatment whenever you notice any of the symptoms.

‘’Furthermore, it has been proven that vaccinations are saving lives here and across the world and those refusing to take the vaccines for no certified medical reasons should know that they are endangering the rest of the citizens.

He urged residents to help protect themselves, loved ones and the rest of the citizens by getting jab at the designated health centres in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State as they become available.

‘’I also appeal to religious leaders and churches to convince and encourage their followers and members to please go out and take the vaccines and comply with the covid-19 protocols in addition.
‘’ Although it remains our desire to keep the State open and allow citizens to go about their social, religious and economic activities unimpeded. But we may be constrained to re-imposed the suspended COVID-19 lockdown measures across the State if the transmission of the disease continues to increase beyond tolerable limits.

‘’Finally, we wish to reiterate that the ongoing demolition of shanties was borne out of the compelling need to safeguard lives and property across the State. . Our objective, which is gradually achieving is to deny the criminals these sanctuaries and hideouts from which they embark on their criminal activities and safely return to. We therefore refuse to be blackmailed by those unpatriotic elements who are trying to stir false ethnic, religious or tribal sentiments around our patriotic commitment to advance the safety and security of residents. Furthermore, we refuse to be intimidated by such baseless pranks. Rather, we will not rest until we clear the State of all shanties wherever they are located and restore sanity to our environment and achieve a better sense of comfort and security for everyone.

In another development, the Rivers State Government has declared Messrs. Gift Elenwo, Chiboso Glory Ejeku and Tambari Godwin Gbara wanted for alleged criminal activities and harassment of contractors, particularly Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, in the State.
A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) Rivers State Governor, Mr Kelvin Ebiri directed the Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas and security agencies to ensure that the aforementioned wanted persons are apprehended and handed over to the police immediately for prosecution.

Press Statement

RIWAMA Bans Dumping Of Wastes On Median Of Road
… Sets Up Task Force To Monitor Compliance

For refusing to heed several pleas and warnings not to dump wastes on the median of the road by residents and those doing business in the state, Rivers State Waste Management Agency, RIWAMA, has finally banned the dirty act forthwith.

Consequently, a task force has been put in place to enforce the order and arrest and prosecute any person(s) caught breaching the order.

RIWAMA Sole Administrator, Bro Felix Obuah said the decision became necessary following flagrant disregard to all efforts of the Agency by members of the public to see reason and discontinue with the uncivilized attitude that exposes the greater majority of the people doing business in the state to danger.

The RIWAMA boss regretted that the considerateness of the Agency has been mistaken for weakness, hence the need for the irreversible decision.

Bro Obuah said from henceforth the Agency has shifted from making appeals to people to stop the animalistic behaviour of dumping wastes on the median to dealing with those who refuse to repent from the act to meting out the punishment due them so that they serve as deterrents to others.

“I am therefore urging those in the habit of not using the receptacles strategically located at various points on the roads and streets, preferring to test our might by scattering wastes on the median of the road to advise themselves and stop forthwith. It’s better to do so now than pleading for mercy if apprehended by the task force that has been given all the powers to monitor compliance to the ban order”, Bro Obuah warned.

Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to
Bro. Felix Obuah, Sole Administrator,
Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
Thursday, September 9, 2021.