A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, on Wednesday lashed out at Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, over his attack on former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, describing the Presidency’s rebuttal as hollow and evasive.
Amaechi, who recently weighed in on the newly signed tax law under the Tinubu administration, had alleged that the Federal Government was tactically delaying its implementation to avoid voter backlash ahead of the 2027 general elections. He warned that the full weight of the policy would descend on Nigerians after the polls if the ruling party retains power.
But the Presidency, through Onanuga, dismissed Amaechi’s claims as “egregious lies,” insisting that the former Minister of Transportation was misleading the public.
Reacting in a strongly worded statement, Eze berated Onanuga for what he termed “playing to the gallery” instead of directly addressing the issues raised by Amaechi.
According to him, “there is nothing fallacious in what Amaechi said. Nigerians deserve to know the implications of the new tax regime and why its implementation has suddenly gone into limbo.”
Eze queried the rationale behind the delay, noting that the administration had mounted intense pressure on the National Assembly to pass the tax reform bill and wasted no time in securing presidential assent.
“If the law was so urgent and beneficial, why is its implementation being postponed?” he asked. “Is it not true that the government fears electoral consequences?”
The APC stalwart commended Amaechi for what he described as a patriotic intervention, saying the former governor merely took time to educate Nigerians on the “danger and economic consequences” that may trail the policy if implemented after the 2027 elections.
He warned that by early next year, Nigerians might begin to feel the strain if the APC returns to power and proceeds with what he labelled an “anti-people tax regime.”
Eze maintained that no amount of media damage control or name-calling would invalidate Amaechi’s position, insisting that prominent Nigerians, business leaders, civil servants and the downtrodden were already aware of the potential impact of the tax law.
Describing the Presidency’s denial as “an exercise in futility,” he said the salient facts highlighted by Amaechi remained uncontroverted.
“Amaechi has spoken truth to power. Onanuga knows why the implementation is being delayed. Nigerians are not fools and will not be deceived,” Eze declared.
He urged voters to reflect deeply on the warning, stating that the former minister’s comments were borne out of patriotism and concern for the masses.
