"If Nigeria will continue to exist as the giant of Africa, there must be mutual agreement among her component units on how to use the perceived differences of the people as basis for strength, unity and progress", Emegha said.
The Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State, Hon. Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha stated this in Abakakili while lending his voice to the ongoing collection of Valued Added Tax VAT saga in the country.
Hon Okoro-Emegha said he was in support of the position his state governor, Engr Chief David Umahi on the issue, stressing that the Federal Government should continue to collect VAT and share same to states for even development in the country.
He vehemently, opposed the decision of both the Rivers and Lagos states Governors Nyeson Wike and Babajide Sanwo-Olu in challenging the powers of the Federal Government to collect VAT, emphasizing that prior to the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the revenue generated from palm oil in the South East and groundnut in the North were all used to develop other parts of the country including states.
"VAT currently constitutes about 45% of the Nigerian earnings and if withdrawn, it is suggestive that the Governors do not want the common good of the people of Nigeria who gave them several opportunities to serve in different capacities. How can one who supposedly should be canvassing that the resources of the nation be used to develop the capacities and abilities of the states that gave their best for the development of other states before the oil boom be tearing it apart?" He queried.
On the need to continue to promote peaceful co-existence among the people of diverse cultures and heritage, the Caretaker Chairman who noted that Governor David Umahi has done extremely well in building bridges of cohesion and progress across the Niger urged Nigerians to stand with optimistic leaders who can't sell them for a penny but rather protect their interest at all times.
He also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for tolerating all manners of persons who claim to be leaders in the respective stands but lack honesty, objectivity and moral justification about the present day realities.
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