If Tinubu fails, i will look elsewhere

In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) President Alhaji Shettima Yerima discusses the perceived northern opposition to the tax reforms bill, highlighting the government’s shortcomings, the importance of proper consultation, and the need for transparency to gain public support.If Tinubu fails, i will look elsewhere

He also discusses northern dissatisfaction, reflecting on the Tinubu-led government’s high expectations and the need to address insecurity and economic hardship to regain northern trust.

Yerima also criticises some state governors for relying heavily on federal allocations and sharing federal funds with their cronies rather than investing in their states’ development. He claims that decentralising the federal structure would make states more productive and self-sufficient, benefiting the nation. Excerpts:

The Northern Opposition to Tax Reform Bills: Why? Your fears?
Tax reform bills depend on how people and interests view them. For us, the government could have done better. Drawing conclusions from the country’s situation was good. No nation ignores taxes, even if we’re doing well.

This is one of their main development funding sources. The presentation was problematic. The bill managers failed, so the north reacts as if it opposes tax reforms. No. Politicising the issue made it seem anti-north. The government can still succeed by consulting first. After passing the National Assembly, elected officials will return to their constituencies to meet with voters.

The bill will gain legitimacy this way. I’m glad the executive branch and lawmakers reached an agreement. The lawmakers also agreed to consult with their constituents. I think they will amend and pass the bill with few grey areas. The trouble it caused was unnecessary.

What are your grey areas for consideration for change?
The VAT area is my focus, but there are larger areas. My interest is secondary to public opinion. Thus, they must let it reach the people and thoroughly review it with all stakeholders before passing it at the National Assembly.

The North’s massive support for President Tinubu and opposition to this major government decision shows public dissatisfaction. Do you regret supporting Bola Tinubu?
Northerners have some regrets. Remember that Buhari’s eight years brought nothing to the north. The expectation was that Tinubu knew where the problem was, and someone like me who had worked with him and looked up to him believed that he knew so much about the country’s problems and would approach them as a democrat and offer solutions. People are disappointed because he’s not meeting their expectations.

Fair enough, the situation was dire. Everybody knew Buhari’s successor would face a difficult path. We never expected Tinubu to perform a miracle in two years after eight years of garbage. There are expected reforms, and without kids, we may not see the results immediately, but the government must cushion any policy to avoid unnecessary suffering.

People have suffered enough. If he had done it that way, nobody would have accused Tinubu of trying to balkanise or oppress any section of the country. He’s vulnerable and no local champion. Creating a policy is one thing, but implementing it may not be well received.

The North is furious with the government, but it has another chance in two years to fix things. Some of us are hesitant to conclude that Tinubu is bad for the north. We understand the journey is difficult. Encourage him and give him the benefit of the doubt.

Some of us can band together against him and vote for someone we know will improve our lives if he doesn’t. We will meet with stakeholders, decide, and consider alternatives. Too soon to say Tinubu failed.

How are you calming the region’s concerns about his policies?
I think he should address insecurity immediately. I must first applaud the military. Insecurity and insufficient manpower are straining them. I applaud the Service Chiefs and Minister Bello Metawalle for boosting men’s morale and other support.

They need more government support to fulfil their mandate. They need to look inward and find ways to implement more palliatives that reach the people and reduce hardship. Tinubu would win northerners’ hearts if he could improve security, peace in troubled areas, and hardship reduction.

The northerners do not hate Tinubu or oppose him; they just dislike government policies that make life worse. They expect things to improve in two years. If this pain persists, it will be bad. I still believe in him and think he can fix things. Again, the government can show sanity by prosecuting all Nigerian thieves. I dislike the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

Some of the last administration’s resource squanderers still roam the streets brazenly, and the government needs to arrest and imprison them to restore sanity. Some were unknown years ago but now own trillions of naira. I’m uneasy with the government here.

Don’t you think state governors should be more creative in addressing these issues, especially the economy and social security?
Your point is perfect. The President is not responsible for some of these issues. With all the federal funds and allocations to states, what are governors doing? Nobody looks there. In what way and economically have they reduced poverty? I can guarantee that some of these governors sponsor National Assembly bad guys who oppose Tax Reform bills. Some failed to use their states’ resources to benefit their people. They contribute nothing.

They just like getting the federal money to share with friends and take their girlfriends abroad. They lack creativity and are lazy. Some states that receive billions from the centre cannot generate N1 billion internally. I support federal decentralisation because of that. When we decentralise the system, everyone will return to their states and use their potential and resources to be productive. This current system will never be released. We will continue to have problems if people sit and wait for federal allocation without contributing to the centre.

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The founding fathers wanted this. Therefore, Sardauna and Awolowo were right. If America’s system isn’t beneficial, why borrow it? It’s insane. This central government must decentralise. States and governors must be viable and productive. A few are lazy. The governors are our issue.

That money goes where? They used it for what? We must ask questions. These Tax Reform bills must pass, but they must change the grey areas. Every state must harness its resources and pay the centre a portion. In their generosity, the government has stated that all levels of government will receive the funds.

The state will take 50%, the local government 35%, and the centre 15%. Why is that wrong? Without sowing, you won’t harvest. Why does the monkey keep working and the bamboo chops? I heard Lagos mentioned. That state has improved. We’ve seen Lagos’ resource production. Lagos and Rivers can survive without federal aid. What’s wrong with state governors doing the same to survive? Even with federal funding, some struggle to pay salaries. How can this state survive?

Do you think state governors will support this arrangement because they oppose local government autonomy?
Flying will be hard, but we will keep advocating for it until God gives us a tough president and God-fearing lawmakers who will call their bluff and do the right thing. Governors won’t notice it until it’s passed. God bless local government autonomy. Getting there now and will get there.

If Tinubu fails, i will look elsewhere