Prince Paul Ikonne, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, has criticised the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for forcing Aba traders to pay N3.1 billion yearly as tax despite economic hardship.
Ikonne disclosed this in a statement through his spokesperson, Ujo Justice, on Wednesday.
He said Otti’s heavy tax policies have put Aba, the country’s commercial hub, on the verge of collapse.
According to him, traders in Aba who previously paid N18,000 per shop are now forced to pay over N36,000 yearly, amounting to N3.1 billion annually.
“With more than 88,000 shops in Ariaria alone, this translates to an outrageous N3.1 billion annually.”
“Why should Aba traders, the very heartbeat of commerce in southern Nigeria, be strangled by such reckless and selfish-driven taxation?”
Ikonne further reiterated the call for Otti’s government to account for the whereabouts of the N54 billion spent on renovating 51 schools.
“Governor Otti, fear God and show us the 51 schools you claimed to have renovated with N54 billion.”
Aba traders can’t be paying N3.1bn annually amid economic hardship – Ikonne tackles Gov Otti
