Leaders and concerned constituents in the Southern Borno Senatorial District have voiced their support for their senator, Mohammed Ali Ndume, over his position on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed tax administration reforms.
The group, known as the Southern Borno Concerned Citizens, released a statement defending Ndume’s stance, which has been critical of the president’s tax reform plans submitted to the National Assembly.
Comrade Bulama Ali Haruna Sawa, the spokesperson for the Senatorial District, dismissed a “so-called Northern Redemption Coalition” and its anonymous convener, Adamu Bashir, who had criticised Ndume’s position. Sawa said the people of Southern Borno fully identify with Ndume’s stance, which aligns with that of Northern Governors, Elders, and the National Economic Council.
The statement argued that the proposed tax reforms have the potential to burden the already struggling masses further and are skewed against the people of the North. It challenged Bashir to make a physical appearance and explain the basis for his claims that the people of Southern Borno differ from their senator on this issue.
The elders praised Ndume’s track record of representing their interests and said his views on the tax bill reflect the prevailing sentiment among Nigerians. They urged the government to learn from the recent experiences in Kenya, where similar fiscal reforms led to nationwide unrest.
The Southern Borno leaders expressed their full support for Ndume and said they were satisfied with his performance as their senatorial representative.
