Former ADC Presidential Candidate Wants Tinubu To Suspend New Tax Law

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2023 general election, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the ongoing tax reform policies, citing worsening economic hardship and insecurity across the country.

Mr. Kachikwu made the call while addressing a world media conference in Abuja.

He said Nigerians are already overstretched and cannot cope with additional tax burdens at a time when many are struggling to survive.

According to him, the combined effects of rising insecurity and recent economic reforms have pushed millions of citizens to the brink, leaving little room for hope or stability.

He warned that continued pressure on the masses through aggressive taxation could trigger widespread resistance.

Quoting from the Bible, the ADC candidate stressed that hope is essential for survival and national progress, but lamented that many Nigerians are steadily losing hope as living conditions deteriorate through no fault of their own.

Mr. Kachikwu likened the current suffering of Nigerians to the biblical experience of the Israelites under Pharaoh, questioning whether the present leadership fully understands the depth of hardship faced by the people.

He cautioned that President Tinubu would not want to be remembered as a leader whose policies forced citizens to flee the country in search of survival.

While acknowledging that the president inherited a fragile economy requiring urgent reforms, Mr. Kachikwu argued that the economic “surgery” currently underway has instead deepened hardship for ordinary Nigerians, depriving them of basic means of livelihood.

Mr. Kachikwu therefore called for compassionate and people-oriented leadership, urging the federal government to prioritize security, economic stability, and citizens’ welfare over increased taxation.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji