By Jeremiah Urowayino

Former member of the House of Representatives representing Warri Federal Constituency, Daniel Reyenieju, has faulted Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State comment on the tax reform policy, describing it as inaccurate.

Reyenieju also termed Bala’s view a tactic designed to manipulate regional sentiments.

The Bauchi State governor had claimed that tax reforms would unleash economic devastation upon Northern Nigeria.

However the three-term lawmaker argued that the assertion was inaccurate, saying tax reform was crucial to broaden the tax base and enhance revenue collection.

His words: “Essential prerequisites for Nigeria’s national development. It is both irresponsible and disingenuous for Governor Mohammed to paint this necessary reform as an assault on the North when, in fact, it is designed to benefit all Nigerians. His divisive rhetoric serves only to stir hostility and disrupt the much-needed unity at this critical juncture.

“Moreover, the governor’s sweeping claims about the purported negative impacts of this tax reform on Northern Nigeria are utterly unsubstantiated. He has failed to provide any concrete data or specific economic indicators to back his serious allegations. It is astonishing and unacceptable that a governor, entrusted with the leadership of his state, would levy such accusations without a shred of verifiable evidence. His failure to substantiate his claims strongly suggests that they are rooted more in political maneuvering than in genuine economic analysis.

“In addition, Governor Mohammed has offered no viable alternatives or constructive solutions to improve Nigeria’s revenue generation and ensure fair resource distribution. Merely denouncing necessary reform without presenting solid, actionable proposals is a dereliction of his duties as a leader. What are his specific recommendations for enhancing our economy? His silence on these critical issues only serves to underscore the political motivation behind his opposition.

“Furthermore, his call for the Federal Government to listen to the people rings hollow, as he betrays a complete disregard for the broader economic needs of our nation. His opposition to the tax reform is not a principled stand against perceived injustices but rather a politically motivated attempt to obstruct essential economic measures. This inflammatory language is designed solely to incite regional tensions rather than foster constructive dialogue.

“We have seen too many leaders, like Governor Bala Mohammed, exploit unfounded claims and inflammatory rhetoric to divert attention from the pressing issues at hand. This pattern of behavior must be challenged vigorously. I urge Governor Mohammed to provide concrete evidence to support his claims or to retract them unequivocally. The Nigerian people deserve transparency, accountability, and leadership informed by facts rather than fear mongering.

“In a statement released on Wednesday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele exemplified how a true leader must address issues with clarity and data-driven evidence. He cited specific figures from the tax reform proposal, saying, ‘as credible data have shown, for instance, the new model recommends 6.17 per cent to Kano compared to 0.89% currently due to it.’ For Zamfara, the figures indicate an increase from 0.05 per cent to 1.21 per cent. Notably, the revised model shows a significant reduction of 81% for Lagos, from 80.26 per cent to just 15.28 per cent . Furthermore, the new model will result in a 41 per cent decline in Rivers’ share, dropping from 7.74 per cent to 4.6 per cent. Senator Bamidele rightly concluded that ‘the narrative surrounding the new derivation model is completely false and unfounded,’ underlining the importance of basing discussions on accurate and credible data.

“It is an egregious falsehood to suggest that these reforms are crafted to favour select regions at the expense of others. Throughout our nation’s history, revenue allocation has never been perfectly equitable. To single out this reform as a targeted attack is not only misleading but a gross misrepresentation of the truth. This kind of rhetoric is dangerous and undermines the spirit of national unity that we desperately need.”