The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Timi Frank, has asked the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) and
other federal government agencies not to drag themselves into the
politics of 2019 general election.
A statement he issued
yesterday in Abuja in reaction to reports of sealing Integrated Logistic
Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) office, a company in which the former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar has interests, by the FIRS, Frank said
the action could be a ploy to weaken Atiku ahead of his perceived
ambition for 2019.
“This is not the time to play politics with
the issues of governance. Could it be another ploy to weaken Atiku ahead
of his perceived ambition for 2019?” Frank asked.
While
condemning the sealing of Intels by FIRS, Frank wondered why FIRS just
realised the non-payment of tax by Intels and Export Free Zone also
decided that Intels is operating illegally.
“It is pertinent to note
that in the history since the establishment of Intels, no central
government has ever brazenly persecuted Intels like this present
government.
“The act of the FIRS, NPA, and FTZ as agencies of
government is and can be seen to be a calculated attempt to humiliate
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“How come FIRS just realised the non- payment
of tax by Intels? The export free zone just realised that Intels is
operating illegally. If the agencies just realised all these , it means
they have shown total failure in discharging their duties,” he stated.
Frank said the government agencies should learn to follow due process in conduct their affairs.
He warned the government agencies to thread carefully, saying: “My
thoughts are that some political leaders, who are afraid of his profile,
are hell bent on truncating his perceived ambition.
The APC chieftain pleaded to the presidency to promptly intervene before it gets out of hands.
According to him, “I want to believe that the presidency is not aware
of this over bearing and over zealousness on the part of these
government agencies. By this, I plead with the presidency to promptly
intervene on this matter appropriately in due course before it gets
late.
“The good news is that no matter what these agencies of
government do, the prerogative and his decision to run for presidency
come 2019 is his fundamental right and rightly so if he so desires.
“Nigeria,
as it is today, has a lot going on and this latest brazen acts by
government agencies is the least on the minds of Nigerians.
“We
encourage government agencies to do their work but also take note that
governance should not be reduced as a tool to witch hunting individuals
and by playing petty politics.
“I see this as an intimidation coming
from agencies of government of the day on an innocent Nigerian. We must
not be cowed by these agencies of government which want to turn
themselves to political actors to gain favour from the government of the
day.”
The APC scribe urged Nigerians to rise up against any
attempt to vilify any individual in the guise of over zealousness of
government agencies.
“Today is Atiku, tomorrow it can be any
other person, and for this purpose, we must all stand against this
impunity. Let’s all thread carefully as we strive for a better country
and democracy.”
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