Tax Reform Bill: Lagos Plotting to ‘Colonize’ Northern Nigeria, Says Kwankwaso

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has raised alarms over what he perceives as growing interference from Lagos in the affairs of northern Nigeria.

During a speech at the convocation ceremony of Skyline University in Kano, Kwankwaso accused certain Lagos-based entities of meddling in the governance and economic decisions of Kano State. He alleged that these influences are aimed at exerting control over the region’s leadership and resources.

Kwankwaso claimed that the appointment process of Kano’s emir was being manipulated by external forces from Lagos, undermining the traditional independence of the emirate. “The situation in Kano and across northern Nigeria is worrying. The emir is being reduced to a mere figurehead, taking orders from distant powers,” he lamented. “It is evident that Lagos wants to dictate who becomes our emir and exert control over Kano’s leadership.”

The former defence minister also criticized what he described as Lagos’s undue influence on tax matters in the region. He alleged that officials from Lagos were actively working to divert tax revenues generated in Kano back to the southern state. “We see young officials from Lagos trying to siphon our tax revenues. Even phone numbers registered in Kano are being targeted for tax redirection to Lagos,” Kwankwaso claimed.

He further noted that businesses based in Kano, including factories and banks, often face pressure to relocate their headquarters to Lagos, resulting in a significant loss of local tax contributions to the southern economic hub.

Kwankwaso called on northern lawmakers to remain vigilant against any policies or legislation that could disadvantage their region. He recalled previous instances, particularly around 1999-2000, when he believed northern representatives were coerced or financially incentivized to support laws that had negative impacts on the northern economy, especially regarding offshore tax arrangements.

In his address, Kwankwaso urged northern leaders to resist external influences and protect the economic interests of their region.