John Nwosu, the candidate of the African Development Congress (ADC) for the 8 November Anambra governorship election, has promised to end multiple tax regime if elected the next governor of the state.
Mr Nwosu said on Monday that he would dismantle the current revenue collection system which he described as “crude and unsustainable”.
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The candidate made the promise during an online interactive session with Anambra indigenes residing in the United States of America under the umbrella of Anambra State Association (ASA)-USA.
Mr Nwosu, an ICT expert, said that the revenue agents acting on behalf of Governor Charles Soludo’s administration was “a sad commentary which had brought a lot of tears to the people”.
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He bemoaned the death of Okechukwu Akaname, a former president of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, as a result of complications after an encounter with revenue enforcement team in Anambra.
He said that such lawlessness would not happen under his watch if elected governor.
“Multiple taxation is a problem that is common, more especially in Anambra. I will end it if elected as governor in 8 November,” he said.
Mr Nwosu promised to implement full e-government system with a view to streamlining revenue collection and eliminating the need for physical enforcers on the streets.
He said that technology-driven approach would not only end the harassment but also tackle corruption and improve government transparency.
Mr Nwosu proposed a collaborative approach through the South-east Governors Forum where computerised sticker system, would be used to prevent multiple levies across the region.
“Under our E-Transport system, whoever registers will be free of any sort of harassment.
“You are not supposed to be seen on the road harassing anybody as you like. We’ll remove them 100 per cent from the streets.
“It will be done in such a way that if you registered in Anambra, 50 per cent of the tariff will be remitted to the state, while 50 per cent will be shared among the other states.
“The sticker will have features that would enable a smart phone to authenticate its genuineness,” he said.
Group mobilises support for Soludo
Meanwhile, a political group, Soludo Grassroots Warriors Initiative, has reaffirmed its readiness to mobilise massive support for the re-election of Governor Soludo.
Convener of the group, Rogers Orjiewulu, gave the assurance on Monday in Awka during a meeting to strategise for Mr Soludo’s victory.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting had in attendance the group’s coordinators from the 21 local government areas of the state.
Mr Orjiewulu said that the position of a state governor was “too sophisticated to be gambled with”.
According to him, most of those contesting against Mr Soludo are “non-starters”, and that residents cannot afford to let “learners” take over the governance of the state.
The convener described the local government coordinators as political machinery ready to “crush” the opposition.
He commended them for their faith in Mr Soludo’s administration.
“Governor Soludo has performed so well that traditional rulers from the three senatorial zones of the state conferred on him the title of ‘Olu-Atuegwu’.
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“The title signifies the pragmatic and result-driven leadership brought to Anambra by the renowned professor of economics.
“Given his outstanding performance in his first term, it is only natural for the people of Anambra to support him for a second term.
“Moreover, the saying ‘you do not change a winning team’ remains ever true,” he said.
Mr Orjiewulu said that with the efforts of the group’s coordinators across the 21 local government areas of the state, Mr Soludo would emerge victorious in the election.
(NAN)
