₦airaland Forum

One of the sources noted that "the Senate leadership is offering $5,000 to each senator from Southern Nigeria and select senators from Northern Nigeria to lobby support for the tax reform bills."

Amid the controversies being generated by President Bola Tinubu's tax reforms bill, the Nigerian Senate leadership is presently reaching to members of the Upper Chamber with at least $5000 inducement to ensure pasage of the bill, SaharaReporters can report. 

Senate sources informed SaharaReporters that the leadership has reached out to each Southern senator with the offer, while some selected northern senators would also be captured in the plot to lobby the legislators.

SaharaReporters gathered that there is presently growing fear that the legislators had been compromised in their decision to approve Tinubu's proposed tax reforms, following the money being shared within the legislative chamber to sway votes.

One of the sources noted that "the Senate leadership is offering $5,000 to each senator from Southern Nigeria and select senators from Northern Nigeria to lobby support for the tax reform bills." 

Southern Nigeria is represented by 51 senators, while Northern Nigeria has 58 senators in the chamber. 

It was claimed that the Senate leadership, predominantly from Southern Nigeria, is employing a "divide and rule" strategy, targeting a few Northern senators with additional incentives and welfare promises to secure their support.

"For Southern senators, the leadership is reportedly attempting to evoke regional solidarity and anti-Northern sentiments while offering each senator $5000 as an inducement to back the controversial bills. Last week, all 51 Southern senators were approached with this offer," the source added.

SaharaReporters had days ago reported that members of the Senate from the South-South region of Nigeria on Thursday announced their support for the controversial tax reform bills presented by Tinubu. 

The lawmakers who announced their support of the bills in a communiqué issued in Abuja, had also reaffirmed their strong backing of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, one of the South-South states.

The communiqué was signed by Senator Seriake Dickson (Chairman), Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (Secretary), Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Munir Ned Nwoko, Senator Thomas Joel-Onowakpo, Senator Aniekan Bassey, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Senator Allwell Onyeso. 

Other signatories include; Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Senator Benson Agadaga, Senator Konbowei Benson, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, Senator Ekong Sampson, and Senator Ede Dafinone.

Whereas some lawmakers, governors and political leaders from the Northern region of the country and certain groups from other parts of the country have raised resistance against the bills, calling for its withdrawal, the South-South senators stressed that their support of the bills is rooted in a shared commitment to increasing national revenue and fostering economic growth.

Part of the communiqué had read, “Following a meeting on December 4, 2024, we, the Senators from the South-South Geopolitical Zone, convened to deliberate on pressing national issues and the Senate’s role in advancing the collective interests of Nigeria. After thorough discussions, we reached the following resolutions.

“The South-South Senators unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting his leadership in guiding the Senate toward fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities, including passing laws that serve the best interests of the nation and its citizens.

“We pledge our full support to the Senate President and the leadership of the National Assembly as they work to ensure the effective and timely passage of legislation that promotes good governance, national unity, and economic development.

“Understanding the critical role of tax reforms in enhancing national revenue and ensuring economic stability, we have resolved to support the Tax Reform Bills.

“Our support will be based on a comprehensive review and in-depth evaluation of the bills’ contents to ensure they align with the broader interests of Nigerians, particularly the well-being of the South-South region.

“We call for restraint from those introducing sentiments, whether regional, ethnic, or tribal, into this national dialogue. We look forward to continued robust discussions and consultations as already initiated by the Senate.

“We remain committed to collaborating with our colleagues across the Senate and all relevant stakeholders to foster a legislative agenda that ensures the peace, prosperity, and progress of our nation.”

Meanwhile, it was reported that the South-East Caucus in the Nigerian Senate failed to endorse the controversial tax bill.

The Senate caucus had joined called for wider consultations before the passage of the bill, insisting that there are needs for constituents, stakeholders to be consulted.

The senators had revealed their stance on Monday following a closed-door meeting of senators from the five South-East states, held in the office of their leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South).

Abaribe who spoke on behalf of the caucus stated that the caucus does not oppose the proposed tax reforms.

It was stated that the caucus, however, believed that more extensive engagement with stakeholders was necessary.

He had noted that this would be important before the bills are fully considered by both chambers.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/09/senate-leadership-offers-senators-least-5000-other-incentives-lobby-passage-tinubus

Lol, arrested for exposing your government's lawless corrupt actions.... who appointed the IGP? Why is he filing additional bogus charges against Farotimi? If Tinubu is not complacent then on whose interest is the IGP acting on....? Some of you can not take what you dish out on other people hence you resort to threats....

shivisee:
Hope if you are caught,you won’t say you are acting skit??

UltraSound always thinking that he is making a point by resorting to personal attacks when he has been exposed severally on this platform as a highly biased individual who will say anything including lies to defend Tinubu's callously corrupt government, you can not point out the false allegations made by Nedmedia so you shamelessly resort to insults.... Lame!

UltraSolid:
Lol. If they arrest and charge those running NedMedia for making false allegations, you'll be first to start weeping and gnashing teeth rabidly. You probably work for that NedMedia. Clown.

Tinubu is a highly corrupt dubious individual that has no business being the president of any country.... he remains a threat to Nigeria's progress and I will comtinue to call him out for the damage his government has done to the country, who gave the order for IGP to file fresh charges against Farotimi?.... Your shameless tribalist posts here only exposes how empty you are....

Goodnewsforlife:
that tinubu must b omnipresent to b everywhere

If u can't have an erection it's tinubu, if your wife insult u na tinubu, if u chop e no quick digest na tinubu

With tinubu n Igbos then we can get d full meaning of uneasy lies d head that wears d crown

I can prove it that I am not a stooge like you for any politician as I clearly did not support or defend any of the popular candidates including Obi in the last presidential election. Your narcissistic post calling me childish will not change the fact that Nigerians have seen through the deceptive propaganda of your master Tinubu who you continue to support and defend on this platform, your comment below reeks of hypocrisy and propaganda.....

"To me, Tinubu has the power and unwavering political will to deliver the progress I want to see that will outlive us all to benefit our generations unborn. That is why I support him. Some of the things he has done dem no born Obi or any Southerner to try as we saw with appeasenik GEJ. Meanwhile Northerners like Atiku will never do what Tinubu is doing but for separate reasons. I.e the belief such run contrary to their parochial interest as we are witnessing live with the tax reform bills furore."

UltraSolid:
How old are you? 12? You're too childish to understand the difference between defending Tinubu and defending his actions/policies/reforms as President we progressive folks believe in. I've explained to you. Yet your childish obduracy will never allow you see what matters.

Unlike a hateful loser and simple-minded irritant like you, some of us are busy, exposed and successful Nigerians who want a safer, more productive and more socio-economically progressive Nigeria where we can enjoy lives we don't have to JAPA to secure.

Keep defending individuals, like the simple-minded clown you are, I'll keep defending ideas because they are what matters most to me and what I want to see.

Lol, I thought you will put up another long useless epistle and add the usual fake likes to your post in defence of your APC corruption political masters.... Unlike you, I've nothing to lose because I did not support any of the popular candidates in the last presidential election.... You can't keep defending Tinubu and not look stupid....

UltraSolid:
My friend go and sit down. You're nothing but a bigoted loser.

The truth about Tinubu's link to Afe Babalola's judicial scandal will put you @helinues and others making foolish comments on this thread to shame....

For making this comment, you are as corrupt if not worse than Ganduje..... it's a shame....

Looking4Trouble:
Take energy boost. You will need to wail from now till 2031

I am not an Obi supporter but you already know that suing Ganduje is a waste of time as Nigeria's courts belong to his party.... The judiciary independence is gone, they are now Tinubu's lap dogs.... Nigerians are not ready to do what is required to flush these evil people out....

Paraman:
Obidients can also sue Ganduje to court and stop making noise online

I had expected you to refute the analysis made by the video narrator intelligently in your comment.... Who do you think could've given the IGP order to file fresh charges against Farotimi?

Cooletempa:
Listened to this for two minutes and switched off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG5E-uBMBqw

Tinubu removes all doubt he wants Dele Farotimi incarcerated....?

Your long epistle here means nothing because if laws and justice really matters to you personally, you should've been calling for Tinubu's impeachment and dissolution of his illegimate government based on the questionable way he came into power.... Apart from the shameful presidential election, it was revealed that Tinubu lied under oath regarding his dual citizenship and qualifications.... I do not take any post you make here seriously irrespective of how long or grammatic you make it because your post only reinforces the notion that you lack integrity.... It is glaring that you are either one of those tribal champions or another paid government agent on this platform....

UltraSolid:
He cannot provide any evidence against Babalola . Stop deceiving yourself. Your new and latest 'padi' Farotimi, perhaps because he is an ardent Obidients, also slandered our Court system. I am assuming he'll provide 'evidence' for those rash allegations also?

Per Tinubu, Ganduje etal, let me make it clear I don't give a toss about Ganduje, Party politics and co. For me, it is about Tinubu because he is President in a nation that lacks independent institutional that possess genuine checks-and-balance power yet vest so much power inordinately in it's presidency to be the difference between success and failure.

It therefore becomes about how a President deploys his power. I.e whether for reforms that will empower Nigerians and vastly improve their socio-economic fortunes, as Awolowo did, or another gradualist like OBJ, GEJ and Buhari who cumulatively led to essentially retain our sordid status quo only benefiting the few who are directly politicians or others enjoying the largesse of politics by association.

To me, Tinubu has the power and unwavering political will to deliver the progress I want to see that will outlive us all to benefit our generations unborn. That is why I support him. Some of the things he has done dem no born Obi or any Southerner to try as we saw with appeasenik GEJ. Meanwhile Northerners like Atiku will never do what Tinubu is doing but for separate reasons. I.e the belief such run contrary to their parochial interest as we are witnessing live with the tax reform bills furore.


I have seen enough to validate that Tinubu is indeed the Southern leader who can use the Presidency to transform Nigeria as I wish to see her haven lived most of my life in a Western country where things work plus visited most western nation many can think of.

Let APC deal with Ganduje etal if they have erred because you are talking with a very exposed pragmatist who works with the reality on ground and does not believe in self-deciet or unhelpful idealism. Nigerian political Parties possess nowhere near the institutional integrity other worldwide operate with.

Why do most of you then talk as if you do shouting APC, Labour PDP up and down tediously every damn day ? When will you lot wise up and smell the coffee to work with your reality? How many of your Politicians defect daily at all levels? You see such happening in the UK, USA, Germany?

Let those of you gullible enough to carry APC, PDP, Labour etal matter on your head enjoy your myopia since you are not realists to understand political Parties in Nigeria, as Obi and Atiku show with their serial defections, are mere platforms for individuals to achieve their permanent interest of seeking and gaining power. Those of us who believe in progress for society, because we know such is paramount above all else, will support the person who can bell the Cat to deliver that badly needed progress.

Quite sad that all you can think about is ipob.... Nigerians are in deep trouble if many of the stupid tribal divisive comments I read on this platform are posted by real people living in Nigeria.... If Farotimi's election reform protest would affect Tinubu's re-election rigging plans then yes Tinubu can deploy his goons against Farotimi using Babalola's case as a ploy.... This is just beginning as more revelations will be made down the line over this case....

shivisee:
iPod we have heard,tinubu led the operation that arrested him because he heard he’s related to ipo.b,are you happy now?

You're the tribal bigot for trying to tribalize this thread.... Obi has on several occasions challenged Nigerians to sue him or provide clear evidence of any corrupt actions or events that took place in Anambra state while he was the governor.... Till now no one has been able to prove otherwise.... Your cheap attempt to derail this thread has failed.... Go and tell Tinubu that he can not deceive Nigerians that he is fighting corruption when his party's national leader Ganduje is corruption personified....

garykoeman:
Igbo people always defending their criminal tribesmen.

Was obi not part of the rot in the system.

Continue, what u people are looking for u will definitely find it.

Try another pattern this one is stale.

Igbo are saints others tribes are criminal. Tueh.

Same format led to the first millitary coup by your ibo officers at least u knew how everything ends.

The venom you're using to crucify Farotimi, can you do same if Ganduje and Tinubu your masters was in the same situation? The answer is NO.... Besides, it is still too early to conclude that Farotimi is guilty until proven so.... It will not be surprising if he provides the evidence to backup his book in court....

You've continued to shy away from defending your corrupt APC masters Ganduje and Tinubu in my other thread as they are immune to your biased judgemental opinions on this platform....

UltraSolid:
Stop acting like an immature adult who has lived his entire life in the forest. If I am guilty of criminal conduct against you, it is you alone who can choose what to do based on the hurt and damage my action has caused.

By the way, it isn't just a book. In this case the law can take the opinion said book is a medium Farotimi weaponised as a far-reaching tool of defamation. Farotimi betrayed the legal profession with his behaviour because he is a lawyer also who knows the damaged libel and defamation cause. That's how the judge will view it 100% if case goes all the way.

Nonsense! People like Tinubu, Ganduje walking free for worst crimes while Farotimi is in prison and his rights violated over a book.....
UltraSolid, the chief defender of Tinubu, APC and illegality on Nairaland, come and defend your master Ganduje in my other thread....

UltraSolid:
Don't mind the childish OP. He should gather people to hit the Street and protest against Tinubu for Farotimi's lawful and legal detention for something he did 100% which should be what is uppermost in the mind of responsible and law-abiding Nigerians.

By OP's reasoning, when they arrest Bello Turji then his crew too should hit the street claiming Tinubu is detaining him unlawfully and violating his 'fundamental human rights'?

Some people are too childish, impulsive and irresponsible to note the possible consequence of their action tomorrow. Same sort of people who queued behind Kanu, Ekpa, Chinasa Nworu etal to open the floodgate of killings, disorder, cannibalism, terrorism and chaos in the SE. Can they close that gate today?

Lame! Obi is not a member of the current government or ruling party.... cherry picking screenshots of sensational headlines does not justify or belittle the overwhelming evidences of Ganduje and Tinubu's crimes that are all over the internet.... I am not an Obi supporter but you should be ashamed of yourself for calling Obi's name on this thread as your defense.... APC remains the face of corruption in Nigeria.....

garykoeman:
Not only ganduje let expose all these dirty politicians.

You lied as I've never made a tribalistic post on this platform.... My posts directed at Tinubu is necessary because he as Nigeria's president is the chief architect of the current terrible state of it's economy as he continues to weaken Nigeria's institutions over his selfish political ambitions and corrupt divisive nepostic leadership... When it comes to national progress, Tinubu is a danger to Nigerians..... You've no shame lying because if you truly checked my posts it's been a consistent message pushing for the total restructuring or division of the country as a means to foster peace, progress and justice....

garykoeman:
Most of your post are always directed at tinubu, ganduje or their tribe which always makes your post tribalistic.

90% of cocaine traffickers destroying the country image are from a certain tribe kindly open a thread on it so we will believe u are truly speaking against injustice, corruption and crime in Nigeria atlarge.

You will not find Nairaland users like Ultrasolid and bukeyemedia who are shamelessly defending their masters in a previous thread I made about Farotimi on this thread..... Writing useless long epistles against me does not change the fact that white is white and black is black.... Let them come and defend their corruption masters Ganduje and Tinubu on this thread..... Nigeria needs to be totally restructured or divided to enable the likes of Ultrasolid, bukeyemedia and helinues rest from spreading mischievious divisive propagandas online.... shameless people....

Until majority of Nigerians do away with tribal religious sentiments towards national issues, these evil party APC and it's government will continue to deceive them with fake promises while they plunder the nation's treasury and resources....

APC's national leader Abdullahi Ganduje (corruption personified) busy squeezing bundles of dollars received as bribe into his agbada....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGCvXTISNns


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQU9X6F2tHM&pp=ygUPR2FuZHVqZSBkb2xsYXJz


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYyGKK1x7s&pp=ygUPR2FuZHVqZSBkb2xsYXJz

How can Nigerians expect Tinubu, Ganduje and other criminals running the evil APC government to provide good governance.....? What makes the situation worse is that many Nigerians including those on this platform suffering the consequences of the misrule orchestrated by these bad men due to tribalism, religious bigotry or outright stupidity will do any thing to defend and support these men.... No nation can make genuine progress where truth, justice and rule of law are constantly been subjugated over corruption, greed, hateful tribal sentiments and religious bigotry.... As long as, Tinubu, Ganduje and other political criminals are within the corridors of power, nothing good can come from this government....

The timing of his arrest on the basis of his December 3rd declaration is indeed suspicious.... Over a book that was release in July.... If truly Farotimi was to declare a nationwide sit-at-home protest for election reforms towards 2027 then it is safe to say that Tinubu's goons may be behind his incarceration using Babalola.... Some may argue that Farotimi is guilty..... an accused remains innocent until proven guilty by the court.... The continued unjust violation of his rights through illegal detention without bail by the police should be condemned by all Nigerians....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MYk7VbaRYM

Tinubu behind Dele Farotimi's abduction for demanding electoral reforms and sit-at-home protest?