seunmsg:


Now that you’ve realized that Orji Kalu is bigger than Tinubu, let’s encourage him to contest for APC’s presidential ticket against Tinubu at the next convention of the party to choose the presidential candidate.

No need for the usual wailing and crying about how south west is preventing Igbo presidency again. Let’s just meet at the primaries and settle the matter once and for all. I assure you, the entire south west will vote for Kalu Uzor Orji if he wins the primary. Deal?

Bros your confidence is an empty one. The reality on ground is that APC is just like PDP of 2006. Buhari and his cabal hold the aces party wise. If they back Kalu against tinubu or osinbajo, I can assure you he will win just as Yaradua emerged against the mighty hawks in the PDP then led by Atiku

The Northern Governors’ Forum will on Monday (today) hold an emergency meeting to discuss issues relating to the Value Added Tax, The PUNCH has learnt.

It was further gathered that the planned meeting, which would be hosted by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, would be presided over by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.

The Coordinator of the Northern Governors Forum Secretariat and Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Professor Danladi Atu, confirmed the planned meeting in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday.

Atu said this as some senior lawyers took on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, over his recent statement that no state had the power to lay claim to the collection of VAT in the country.

The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had in a judgment last month held that Rivers State had the power to collect VAT within its jurisdiction.

But the Federal Inland Revenue Service headed for the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment. At the appeal court, Lagos State filed an application that it should be joined with Rivers State as a co-defendant in the appeal filed by the FIRS.

The appeal court ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the appeal.

Malami, in an interview with Channels Television on Friday, said collection of VAT in the country was on the exclusive legislative list, adding that only the National Assembly had the power to make laws on VAT.

He stated, “As you rightly know, the issue of the Value Added Tax is an issue on the exclusive legislative list. And the implication of being on exclusive legislative list matter is that only the National Assembly can legislate on it. The question that you may perhaps wish to address your mind on is whether there exists any national legislation that has conferred the power on the state to collect VAT. And my answer is ‘no’.


SANs carpet AGF

But Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN on Sunday faulted Malami.

Ozekhome said contrary to Malami’s claim, VAT is in the residual list and is strictly within the purview of state governments.

He said, “He (Malami) is dead wrong. There is nowhere VAT is reflected as a matter within the exclusive or concurrent list in the constitution of Nigeria.

“If anything, it is residual and is strictly within the purview of state government in our federal set-up.

“As of today, there is a judicial pronouncement on it by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, to the effect that only states can collect and administer VAT.

“That remains the legal position today. Until that judgment is probably set aside, that remains the law of the land. The mere statement the Attorney General cannot alter this truism.”

On his part, Adedipe warned that VAT is a serious constitutional issue and should not be politicised.

He said, “Is this in the 1999 constitution or a new one? Which number or section? Let him state it. It is not enough to say it.

“I am not aware that VAT is on any exclusive list of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Second, he is a defendant in the case, he should come to the court to come and put this across. It is not something he should give a press statement or side comments about. It is a very serious constitutional issue and therefore should not be politicised. Since we are before the appellate court, let us leave it there.”

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Northern Governors’ Forum Secretariat, Atu said told The PUNCH on Sunday that the forum would take a position on VAT at Monday’s meeting.

He stated. “The northern governors will be meeting in Kaduna on Monday and I’m sure one of the items on the agenda is about the issue of VAT.”

Asked whether the northern governors would be going to court to join the FIRS in the suit against Rivers and Lagos states over the VAT collection, the forum’s coordinator said, “You will get to know the position of the northern governors on the issue because I’m sure their resolution will be made public after their meeting on Monday “

Apart from Lagos and Rivers states, Ogun State has also started the process of passing a bill on VAT in its House of Assembly.

While some stakeholders including the 17 southern governors supported the position of Lagos and Rivers states that states should collect VAT, some northern governors, including El-Rufai opposed it.


https://punchng.com/northern-govs-meet-on-vat-today-sans-berate-malami/

Naajjii:

But why are you people crying everyday about the north controlling you? You are 200yrs ahead yet those people 200yrs behind with worst human capital development are dominating you , it shows all what you claim you achieved are useless as far as we concerned. The north decides for you.

I would've explained to how political nepotism doesn't translate to anything real but of course you're a congenitally low IQ abokki, so no need.
A small example of that is how you almajiris were hiding among cows and their dungs(shit) to enter the South during lockdown while my fellow IPOB yewts were generally calm and stayed wherever they were enjoying themselves.
A thousand years of osama BinHari in power cannot reverse the dynamics that led to that.

mrvitalis:

Name one project tinubu did in Lagos

You were not borne when he was Governor. No wonder!

CaptainAyub:
Lagos has no public water, no good roads,no railway, no stable road transport system.
But you keep boasting with a Lagos whose major infrastructure was built with NNigeri's collective wealth.
SMH

Name one NNigeria project in Lagos? Why are you coming to Lagos if there was nothing there?

drlateef:





You were not borne when he was Governor. No wonder!

Oga name one major project he did or keep shut

mrvitalis:

We are talking Nigeria here ... zoning us meant for all zones to test presidency right ? So what's the point of zoning when south west want to run because they feel they can win because of anti igbo sentiment ?

Why should igbos support a southern president that's not igbos after it has supported obj n Jonathan now they don't want to repay the support

North can give igbos vice , it's better than nothing ...we can negotiate vice n Senate presidency

What can your southern presidency offer igbos ?

Who told you SE is sure of the VP post in PDP? Haven't you all heard that the SS are clamouring for it as well? They said in 2019 election, they gave PDP 2m votes compared to your 1.6m votes.

walefresh3:
The Northern Governors’ Forum will on Monday (today) hold an emergency meeting to discuss issues relating to the Value Added Tax, The PUNCH has learnt.

It was further gathered that the planned meeting, which would be hosted by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, would be presided over by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of
Plateau State, Simon Lalong.

The Coordinator of the Northern Governors Forum Secretariat and Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Professor Danladi Atu, confirmed the planned meeting in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Sunday.

Atu said this as some senior lawyers took on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, over his recent statement that no state had the power to lay claim to the collection of VAT in the country.

The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had in a judgment last month held that Rivers State had the power to collect VAT within its jurisdiction.

But the Federal Inland Revenue Service headed for the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment. At the appeal court, Lagos State filed an application that it should be joined with Rivers State as a co-defendant in the appeal filed by the FIRS.

The appeal court ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the appeal.

Malami, in an interview with Channels Television on Friday, said collection of VAT in the country was on the exclusive legislative list, adding that only the National Assembly had the power to make laws on VAT.

He stated, “As you rightly know, the issue of the Value Added Tax is an issue on the exclusive legislative list. And the implication of being on exclusive legislative list matter is that only the National Assembly can legislate on it. The question that you may perhaps wish to address your mind on is whether there exists any national legislation that has conferred the power on the state to collect VAT. And my answer is ‘no’.


SANs carpet AGF

But Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN on Sunday faulted Malami.

Ozekhome said contrary to Malami’s claim, VAT is in the residual list and is strictly within the purview of state governments.

He said, “He (Malami) is dead wrong. There is nowhere VAT is reflected as a matter within the exclusive or concurrent list in the constitution of Nigeria.

“If anything, it is residual and is strictly within the purview of state government in our federal set-up.

“As of today, there is a judicial pronouncement on it by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, to the effect that only states can collect and administer VAT.

“That remains the legal position today. Until that judgment is probably set aside, that remains the law of the land. The mere statement the Attorney General cannot alter this truism.”

On his part, Adedipe warned that VAT is a serious constitutional issue and should not be politicised.

He said, “Is this in the 1999 constitution or a new one? Which number or section? Let him state it. It is not enough to say it.

“I am not aware that VAT is on any exclusive list of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Second, he is a defendant in the case, he should come to the court to come and put this across. It is not something he should give a press statement or side comments about. It is a very serious constitutional issue and therefore should not be politicised. Since we are before the appellate court, let us leave it there.”

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Northern Governors’ Forum Secretariat, Atu said told The PUNCH on Sunday that the forum would take a position on VAT at Monday’s meeting.

He stated. “The northern governors will be meeting in Kaduna on Monday and I’m sure one of the items on the agenda is about the issue of VAT.”

Asked whether the northern governors would be going to court to join the FIRS in the suit against Rivers and Lagos states over the VAT collection, the forum’s coordinator said, “You will get to know the position of the northern governors on the issue because I’m sure their resolution will be made public after their meeting on Monday “

Apart from Lagos and Rivers states, Ogun State has also started the process of passing a bill on VAT in its House of Assembly.

While some stakeholders including the 17 southern governors supported the position of Lagos and Rivers states that states should collect VAT, some northern governors, including El-Rufai opposed it.


https://punchng.com/northern-govs-meet-on-vat-today-sans-berate-malami/

This is one of the reason we need a president from South extractions...
The fundamentals interest of the south it very Paramount than the interest of se-sw... All we need it's a president of the south that wil have the kindness heart to influence the house to pass a resolutions in favour of what the south erners are agitating for...
We need fiscal federalism... That's the fastest way to peace and development...
If it is a ss-sw-se anyone from these regions will make sure that , 50% of the south interest fullfilled..

They can now express their disappointment over what Aketi said but can't express their disappointment over the comments of GUMI.

mrvitalis:

Why should igbos support a southern president that's not igbos after it has supported obj n Jonathan now they don't want to repay the support

Don't think everybody is a fool, man. Why should other southern regions too support the man that is not of their region?

onedayatime:


Don't think everybody is a fool, man. Why should other southern regions too support the man that is not of their region?

Because they have been supported ...it's equity and justice here ...if igbos were in Yoruba or south south shoes we won't even via for the president only to support those who haven't ...it's simple

drlateef:



Name one NNigeria project in Lagos? Why are you coming to Lagos if there was nothing there?

Lol.
International airport was built and is maintained by cocoa money I guess.
Third mainland bridge.
The stadium was built with cocoa money.
The seaports were built with cocoa money guess.
FESTAC,Trade fair and many of the estates in Lagos were built with cocoa money I guess.
Up till now Berger-Oshodi-Apapa,Badagry Road and most of the major roads in Lagos are still being maintained by fed govt.
Dodan barracks and all the barracks in Lagos,cocoa money.
If you don't know,Lagos has been on a steady decline since the FCT was taken to Abuja.
People had decent transportation then,many parts of Lagos had pipe borne water,the hold-ups,agbero situation and crime weren't as bad as this.

Almajiri's talking?

franchasng:
All is fair in war and politics, that's what our Southwest presumed political masters have taught us.


Southwest betrayed Southern interest in 2015 when we had a Southsouth man in the person of Goodluck and Southwest went and aligned with the North for solely Yoruba interest and Tinubu's political greed.



So there is nothing bad if Igbos decide to bury their Presidential ambition in 2023 and allow PDP the so called Igbo party to give their ticket to a Northern candidate in order to grab a VP slot or have some kind of central control that Southwest have been enjoying under Terrorist Buhari.



The only reason North fear Igbos is division of Nigeria via Biafra which IPOB have intensified, so it would be unwise for PDP to zone the Presidential ticket to Southeast if APC zone theirs to Southwest, of course APC will win in that scenario, not because of the candidate Southwest will field but because the Northern masses will feel more at ease to vote in a Yoruba man who once joined hands with them to fight Igbos to keep Nigeria as one. And again because APC already controls the Federal government and its mercenaries for election, and Yoruba also have the incumbent Vice President, so it will be easy for a Yoruba candidate under APC to win an Igbo candidate under PDP.


with this political reasoning, it will be more politically beneficial for Igbo to allow PDP zone its ticket to the North if APC zones theirs to Southwest. This is the only way PDP can have a shot at the Presidency once again because Northerners will prefer to vote a fellow Northerner in PDP, and of course majority of SE and SS will cast their vote for whoever PDP fields to spite Terrorist Buhari and his wickedness to the SE cum SS.



The only way Southern Nigeria can comfortably grab power from the North in 2023 is for Yorubas to bury their 2023 Presidential ambition for Igbos in the interest of fairness, equity and Southern unity.


But if Yorubas continue to sing this their song of Igbos are politically foolish, Igbos are talking nonsense they should go to PDP where they sowed and reap, Igbos have no popular candidate to present, Igbos are this and that, then Igbos will have no other option than to sit down and look the other way as PDP picks a Northern candidate.



2023 will shape Nigeria positively or negatively, we de watch, God keep us alive.



Cc: Mrvitalis

tell me what benefits has the Igbo earned with their alliance with the North their Master since 1960,1979,1993? None, it's only under a yoruba president Obasanjo they had significant say at the center.

No one can intimidate the SW to bury their ambition, all what the south west is doing is giving you a taste of the bitter pill the SE has been giving the SW since independence and the SE is crying foul now.
Get a grip and resort to diplomacy rather than blackmail and rhetorics

franchasng:
All is fair in war and politics, that's what our Southwest presumed political masters have taught us.


Southwest betrayed Southern interest in 2015 when we had a Southsouth man in the person of Goodluck and Southwest went and aligned with the North for solely Yoruba interest and Tinubu's political greed.



So there is nothing bad if Igbos decide to bury their Presidential ambition in 2023 and allow PDP the so called Igbo party to give their ticket to a Northern candidate in order to grab a VP slot or have some kind of central control that Southwest have been enjoying under Terrorist Buhari.



The only reason North fear Igbos is division of Nigeria via Biafra which IPOB have intensified, so it would be unwise for PDP to zone the Presidential ticket to Southeast if APC zone theirs to Southwest, of course APC will win in that scenario, not because of the candidate Southwest will field but because the Northern masses will feel more at ease to vote in a Yoruba man who once joined hands with them to fight Igbos to keep Nigeria as one. And again because APC already controls the Federal government and its mercenaries for election, and Yoruba also have the incumbent Vice President, so it will be easy for a Yoruba candidate under APC to win an Igbo candidate under PDP.


with this political reasoning, it will be more politically beneficial for Igbo to allow PDP zone its ticket to the North if APC zones theirs to Southwest. This is the only way PDP can have a shot at the Presidency once again because Northerners will prefer to vote a fellow Northerner in PDP, and of course majority of SE and SS will cast their vote for whoever PDP fields to spite Terrorist Buhari and his wickedness to the SE cum SS.



The only way Southern Nigeria can comfortably grab power from the North in 2023 is for Yorubas to bury their 2023 Presidential ambition for Igbos in the interest of fairness, equity and Southern unity.


But if Yorubas continue to sing this their song of Igbos are politically foolish, Igbos are talking nonsense they should go to PDP where they sowed and reap, Igbos have no popular candidate to present, Igbos are this and that, then Igbos will have no other option than to sit down and look the other way as PDP picks a Northern candidate.



2023 will shape Nigeria positively or negatively, we de watch, God keep us alive.



Cc: Mrvitalis

You Igbos should do your worst. No blackmailing will stop yorubas from contesting. You should better get use to that.

mrvitalis:
The only reason north has this mouth is because south west is showing interest ...if the whole south agree to zone it to south east as equity and justice demands them no born north well


As it stands now north has the edge

South west getting presidency is only hanged on north supporting them reason igbos are checkmating that via zoning PDP to the north

Give APC ticket to and Igbo man watch us move to APC

North can offer igbos vice what can south west offer ? Since they claim politics is about interest

See mumu reasoning. Have you forgotten that you are a DOT in the circle? Your votes don't matter. Even in PDP, SS is more recognise than you because they gave PDP more votes than you are.

Come to think of it, assuming APC hand over the ticket to an IBO man and the PDP hand over the ticket to a northerner, do you think you have a chance of the northerners voting for your man because he is in APC?

Your analogy above doesn't apply to the SW alone but also you.

Don't be dilusional

mrvitalis:

Name one project tinubu did in Lagos

He built 1500 new primary and secondary Schools... Renovated and also upgraded the whole state general hospitals... During the time 9f tinubu as a Lagos State governor... We're paying 300 for tuition fee at lasu.... Free education for both primary and secondary schools...
Introduction of lawma... Brt... Kai...
Rehabilitation of both state and federal road... Ruled Lagos State without federal fund for 3 years...
If u want the lists of the roads he constructed... Google it. Urself...
Eko Atlantic project...

Jackson105:


You Igbos should do your worst. No blackmailing will stop yorubas from contesting. You should better get use to that.

for me I will prefer a Nigeria president from se ..but they are not doing the right..
Tinubu it's expecting them to call to him..bthey should rally around the SW leader and also carry ss along with plans...
Southerner unity and interest its very Paramount at the moment...

Agboriotejoye:


Bros your confidence is an empty one. The reality on ground is that APC is just like PDP of 2006. Buhari and his cabal hold the aces party wise. If they back Kalu against tinubu or osinbajo, I can assure you he will win just as Yaradua emerged against the mighty hawks in the PDP then led by Atiku

To start with, what’s your business with my confidence? Since you are so confident of the popularity and presidential support that Orji Uzor Kalu enjoys, encourage him to contest. Is anybody preventing or campaigning for him not to contest? Stop telling Tinubu, Osinbajo and other south west politicians not to contest.

Whether Buhari support Tinubu or Osinbajo is Irrelevant to the discussion. Kalu is a member of APC and entities to contest. If he emerges as the party’s candidate, we will all support him the same way we will support Tinubu or Osinbajo or Goodluck or anybody from the south that the party throws up.

CaptainAyub:

Lol.
International airport was built and is maintained by cocoa money I guess.
Third mainland bridge.
The stadium was built with cocoa money.
The seaports were built with cocoa money guess.
FESTAC,Trade fair and many of the estates in Lagos were built with cocoa money I guess.
Up till now Berger-Oshodi-Apapa,Badagry Road and most of the major roads in Lagos are still being maintained by fed govt.
Dodan barracks and all the barracks in Lagos,cocoa money.
If you don't know,Lagos has been on a steady decline since the FCT was taken to Abuja.
People had decent transportation then,many parts of Lagos had pipe borne water,the hold-ups,agbero situation and crime weren't as bad as this.

You are ignorant and we will enlighten you. Yes, cocoa money contributed to most of development in Lagos. And Lagos is the commercial centre of Nigeria. Money generated from businesses in form of tax and VAT constitutes more than 60% of tax in Nigeria. From there Lagos only gets peanuts. Yet Lagos is able to sustain itself. It’s the only state in Nigeria that can genuinely stand alone. I have asked that Lagos should declare independence from Nigeria. It’s the 5th largest economy in Africa. If Lagos collects VAT it will become 3rd largest economy. We don’t need Nigeria. All the federal infrastructure you mentioned are complete derelict and useless. Lagos does not make money from them. Rather Lagos is helping to repair them. It’s the only progressive state in Nigeria. Your governors have killed and continue to rape the dead state you come from. Are you not ashamed?

Fahdiga:
But northern leaders can talk to the south anyhow they deem fit without minding their utterances. Only in a country ruled by a terrorist will terrorists be converging openly and issuing statements without being arrested. Fools

Akeredolu only said what the North would have said if they were in same position. Obasanjo had 8years and it was demanded it go to the North. After Jonathan took over the North still demanded bt u can’t remove a sitting president without an election.

So yes South can demand Its left for u to know the best position to take or how to handle it.

drlateef:




You are ignorant and we will enlighten you. Yes, cocoa money contributed to most of development in Lagos. And Lagos is the commercial centre of Nigeria. Money generated from businesses in form of tax and VAT constitutes more than 60% of tax in Nigeria. From there Lagos only gets peanuts. Yet Lagos is able to sustain itself. It’s the only state in Nigeria that can genuinely stand alone. I have asked that Lagos should declare independence from Nigeria. It’s the 5th largest economy in Africa. If Lagos collects VAT it will become 3rd largest economy. We don’t need Nigeria. All the federal infrastructure you mentioned are complete derelict and useless. Lagos does not make money from them. Rather Lagos is helping to repair them. It’s the only progressive state in Nigeria. Your governors have killed and continue to rape the dead state you come from. Are you not ashamed?

Lol.
I have given you a long list of 'Nigerian' projects in Lagos and I'm glad you did not counter even one.
Nigeria will soon divide, then d oil companies will be forced to relocate their headquarters to the Niger delta then the Eastern ports will be made viable which will in turn lead to relocation of lots of businesses to the SS and SE then you go see say Ibadan get prospects pass Lagos sef

walefresh3:

He built 1500 new primary and secondary Schools... Renovated and also upgraded the whole state general hospitals... During the time 9f tinubu as a Lagos State governor... We're paying 300 for tuition fee at lasu.... Free education for both primary and secondary schools...
Introduction of lawma... Brt... Kai...
Rehabilitation of both state and federal road... Ruled Lagos State without federal fund for 3 years...
If u want the lists of the roads he constructed... Google it. Urself...
Eko Atlantic project...

LMAO 1500 primary schools LMAO see lie

mrvitalis:
The only reason north has this mouth is because south west is showing interest ...if the whole south agree to zone it to south east as equity and justice demands them no born north well


As it stands now north has the edge

South west getting presidency is only hanged on north supporting them reason igbos are checkmating that via zoning PDP to the north

Give APC ticket to and Igbo man watch us move to APC

North can offer igbos vice what can south west offer ? Since they claim politics is about interest

but yet SE doesn't sabi play national politics. They are bent on politics of retaliation

edochie12:
If the southeast can't get the presidency,then I think the power should go back to north,at least we igbos are sure of vice president,yorubas did it in 2015 because of vice president against a southern president,so what is good for the goose is also good for the gander

And was it specifically done to SE ? Politics na game of interest....best dem Stay put for PDP

Tomek09:

Iffa slap you eeeeh. Both OUK and Bullion van were governors of their State between 1999—2007. So watch your utterances. We are not begging SW to support Igbo. After all, Yorubas are fond of dividing their votes equally to both PDP and APC. OUK and Okorocha have what it takes to garner massive votes across Northern region more than ur slavemaster and Buhari's errand boy(Oshibanjo).

lol,about Yorubas dividing votes. Of course when they ain't mumus who all put faces in one direction

mrvitalis:
The only reason north has this mouth is because south west is showing interest ...if the whole south agree to zone it to south east as equity and justice demands them no born north well


As it stands now north has the edge

South west getting presidency is only hanged on north supporting them reason igbos are checkmating that via zoning PDP to the north

Give APC ticket to and Igbo man watch us move to APC

North can offer igbos vice what can south west offer ? Since they claim politics is about interest

so as an igbo man you prefer vice president slot rather than you supporting your fellow southern candidate... So ashame of your comment..

Then another aboki will come and finish us off

Tomek09:

Upon all ur wrong note, no single point at all. Before you send a message out in public, always read it please.

he obviously made a point. Now,read again but this time gently

ityP:
We want a Southerner that is also a Christian. Any Southerner that is a Muslim will also lose the polls. Tinubu should forget about it. We can manage Osinbajo (my fear, he will do Tinubu's bidding)

religion bigot. So now na religion be ur prob again.

Individual traits above religion

Ibkhaleel:
We are soon gonna tackle those shameless southern elders and governors.... uselesss drunkards using any opportunity to smear Northerners....We are matured smart and understand politics far better than you confused generations...

You will never and can never win or force any useless drunkard on us..

It is simple.... You hate us, hate our grazing always speak against us and is now seeking for votes? Lol you are only deceiving yourselves!

Just like the Igbos no southerner will ever smell the prisidential seat....

Useless bigots

same as what you're grazing

mrvitalis:

LMAO una dey learn politics ...u want Igbo to run under PDP do that yorubas would use anti Igbo sentiment to win right ? LMAO

PDP zoning to the north have checkmated that

If APC gives the ticket to the South East eventually, what will be the honest position of the South East and you as a person on which party to support given that the South East is largely pro-PDP. Will you put party or tribe first? You said PDP is checkmating by zoning to the North and you as an Igbo person is comfortable with PDP zoning to the North instead of the South East despite your huge support for the party but your anger is directed towards South West in APC. Isn't that misplaced?