A former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Samson Ayokunle, has asked President Bola Tinubu, to stop multiple taxations by federal and state agencies on hungry Nigerians.
Ayokunle, also a former President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, was a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday.
He urged the President to open up the economy of the country and mobilise investment into the agriculture and mining sectors to tap the goldmines locked up in them.
“Let’s delve into other aspects of our economy. Nigeria is rich, let’s explore, not just taxing, taxing. If you tax people, people will die. If you continue to tax them and tax them, they will die and if people die without fulfilling their life ambition, you will be held responsible.
“I know that the present President wants to help Nigerians but he should stop adding tax to tax but enough is enough. How will people survive? How will people breathe?” he asked.
“Tomorrow is not certain for many people with the way we are going and they are still raising more taxes, electricity tariff hike, and others. Where will people get these monies? Don’t you know the amount you pay them per month? Do you want to kill them or drive them away from the country?” he queried.
‘Economy In Shambles’
He lamented that Nigeria is many years behind considering the resources at the nation’s disposal when compared to the performance of the country.
“The economy is in shambles. The pains Nigerians are facing is unprecedented. I don’t know what to classify this whether it is hyper-inflation or something else,” he said. “The cost of things has spiralled unimaginably that it is difficult for Nigerians to survive.”
‘Tinubu Govt Took Many Steps Backwards’
The former CAN President said, “The new administration took some steps that were very good and they also some steps, if not many steps backwards”.
He criticised the hastiness of the removal of petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration. “The hastiness without considering the implications, line by line, of petrol subsidy removal.”
“This government is trying to address the issue of foreign exchange but they have not gotten it. Something drastic must be done,” he said, adding that the economic situation has become unbearable for young people who can “no longer take it because hope deferred makes the heart weary”.
He, however, commended the student loan scheme by the current administration.
He said the government should focus on investment in the agriculture sector to beat food inflation
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
