Agbaje Tells Fashola To Protect His Political Integrity
Jimi Agbaje, the Lagos state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, of telling lies against him by alleging that he (Agbaje) promised to withdraw or cancel payment of taxes in the state.
This was contained in a statement released on Thurday titled ‘Fashola Lies Again!’ . In the statement Agbaje said it was clear that the governor had taken to serial falsehood in order to confuse citizens into believing of unfounded allegations about him.
According to Nigerian Pilot, Agbaje was reacting to a claim made by Fashola at a book launch in Lagos, alleging that Agbaje had vowed to cancel taxes if elected governor.
The PDP candidate denied the statement, saying he was rather committed to bringing more Lagosians into the tax net while guaranteeing fairness in tax payments.
“Fashola’s first lie was to accuse Jimi Agbaje of owing on his personal taxes, only to realise that a few days earlier, his own Finance Commissioner had issued a letter of commendation to Jimi Agbaje for being faithful in paying state taxes.
“He has of course categorically affirmed that he would stop the unfair and dubious toll collection on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Lagosians are now aware that the fraudulent and failed PPP on that road has been terminated and that the state-constructed road was only expanded by the erstwhile concessionaries using a significant proportion of state resources. We repeat that tolling on that road is oppressive, unfair and a fraud on the people as well as contrary to global best practices as there is no effective alternative to that expressway.
“Mr Agbaje’s position is clear – Lagosians will pay taxes, but they will pay fair taxes. More Lagosians will be encouraged to come under the tax net, rather than over-burden the few compliant tax-payers. And Lagosians will have fair value for their taxes and none of their tax payments will be diverted to service the greed of vested interests and godfathers.
“As for Governor Fashola and his lies, we caution him not to sacrifice all of his remaining integrity and reputation on the altar of cheap politics. But then we would not be too surprised if he shortly releases another lie,” he said.
This is the second time Agbaje has respondedto Fashola over tax issues. In early March, Agbaje wrote a reply on his Facebook page addressing claims by Fashola that Agbaje’s company, JAK-KAY Pharmaceuticals, had unpaid taxes
PDP Lagos governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje and incumbent Babatunde Fashola
According to Nigerian Pilot, Agbaje was reacting to a claim made by Fashola at a book launch in Lagos, alleging that Agbaje had vowed to cancel taxes if elected governor.
The PDP candidate denied the statement, saying he was rather committed to bringing more Lagosians into the tax net while guaranteeing fairness in tax payments.
“Fashola’s first lie was to accuse Jimi Agbaje of owing on his personal taxes, only to realise that a few days earlier, his own Finance Commissioner had issued a letter of commendation to Jimi Agbaje for being faithful in paying state taxes.
“He has of course categorically affirmed that he would stop the unfair and dubious toll collection on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Lagosians are now aware that the fraudulent and failed PPP on that road has been terminated and that the state-constructed road was only expanded by the erstwhile concessionaries using a significant proportion of state resources. We repeat that tolling on that road is oppressive, unfair and a fraud on the people as well as contrary to global best practices as there is no effective alternative to that expressway.
“Mr Agbaje’s position is clear – Lagosians will pay taxes, but they will pay fair taxes. More Lagosians will be encouraged to come under the tax net, rather than over-burden the few compliant tax-payers. And Lagosians will have fair value for their taxes and none of their tax payments will be diverted to service the greed of vested interests and godfathers.
“As for Governor Fashola and his lies, we caution him not to sacrifice all of his remaining integrity and reputation on the altar of cheap politics. But then we would not be too surprised if he shortly releases another lie,” he said.
This is the second time Agbaje has respondedto Fashola over tax issues. In early March, Agbaje wrote a reply on his Facebook page addressing claims by Fashola that Agbaje’s company, JAK-KAY Pharmaceuticals, had unpaid taxes
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