Godwin Obaseki simply studied the Simple Agenda and he's borrowing Edo PDP model on Taxes and Levies.
“I must quickly mention that one issue that continues to agitate Edo people is the lawless activities of some individuals, who persist in harassing and extorting innocent citizens under the guise of collecting taxes and levies.
The laws of our country vest the responsibility for collecting taxes exclusively on the three tiers of government, for instance, Federal, State and local governments.”...Governor Godwin Obaseki
We are pleased to quote governor Obaseki as he seems to have taken excerpts from the PDP Manifesto; The Simple Agenda and adopted the policy and position the Edo PDP had and have over the years advocated for.
Edo people will recall our rejection and condemnation of the APC state government obnoxious tax and levy policy where they used all manner of thugs to intimidate, harass and impoverish traders, taxi and bus drivers, market women as well as small shop owners.We even had cases of Edo people hospitalized and a woman who had a miscarriage after she was greeted violently by friends of the government under the guise of collecting levies.
The government must now prosecute those that it has declared their activities as lawless. The prosecution of these gang of criminals along with their sponsors and government beneficiaries will allay the fears and increase the confidence of Edo people that never again will our state be run in partnership with government thugs and hooligans cum semi literate enforcers.
They should be made to account for the monies they collected and identify which government official or department they made returns to.
This is necessary as Edo people believe that the proscription of this gang of criminals is a prelude to the creation of another set of criminals to be exclusively loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki and his budding cabal!
In my Open letter to Mr Godwin Obaseki,I reiterated the demand of Edo people that the Obaseki Government released the hand over note from the Adams Oshiomhole government as the people deserve to know the content of that document especially the financial breakdown as it concerns the state indebtedness and how much was left in the treasury. Edo people will not take the excuse of empty treasure as an excuse for failure to perform or meet up with electoral promises, prompt payment of staff salary and the immediate take-off of the "commissioned" central hospital.
That the Oshiomhole government was a catastrophe is not subject to any argument,as we are aware that Obaseki's predecessor created a huge mess but we assure Mr Godwin Obaseki that it's in the interest of Edo people for him to come clean now. As he may be aware, cover-up of a crime makes you an accomplice!
We are not offended that the Simple Agenda has become a blueprint that Mr Godwin Obaseki wishes to implement as long as he occupies Government house,the plan to revive our Technical schools,the plan to Establish the Gele Gele seaport,the plan to take advantage of technology in the transfer of waste to wealth and the plan to completely abolish the use of hoodlums to collect levies and taxes on behalf of government were ALL contained in the Simple Agenda of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu ,our Joy however is that the people and only the people be given priority in any government.
Happy New Year!
Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor wrote from Abuja.
