Lagos PDP Rejects Aggressive Tax Regime

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State and candidate for the House of Representatives, Mr. Benson Ajinde Oke, has condemned the oppressive tax regime in the state and promised to correct it if his party comes to power.

“Lagosians are paying more tax than other people in any other state in Nigeria. We will not be involved in a situation where government is very aggressive about taxation,” he assured.

Oke, who is vying to represent Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, promised that a PDP government will not embark on any demolition without providing immediate alternatives for those to be affected.

Addressing newsmen in his campaign office on Olodi-Apapa, Oke lamented what he described as the slow pace of development in Ajeromi-Ifelodun and attributed it to ineffective representation.

“People are just there representing themselves and their pockets. They don’t identify with the constituency because there is nothing to show for their representation in terms of development,” he stated.

He promised to bring federal presence to the area, if elected.

He also promised to use his constituency budget to develop identified areas that are of priority to the people.

“I have identified needed projects for the constituency. I will have a liaison office here where people can register their complaints and problems. In fact, the constituency allowance will be used to finance priority projects. And as a trained accountant, I am going to be prudent,” he assured.

The former accountant with Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) maintained that empowering the youths in the area shouldn’t be a problem to any politician who has the genuine intention to serve.

“I will focus on the transformation of the popular Maracana field into a modern sports complex and empower creative youths and market women, among others,” he added. At the state level, Oke assured that a PDP government will perform better than the current administration in the state, stressing that the party had prepared a blueprint for the rapid development of the state.

—Paul Sanusi