As the year 2024 winds up, the Onibudo of Aiyetoro Budo Ota in Ado-Odo-Ota local government area of Ogun state, Oba Adewunmi Adeniji Odutala has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to think out of the box and hurriedly proffer solution to the hardship in the country ahead of 2025.
Oba Odutala said the bleeding economy has discouraged Nigerians to have confidence in the government again, thereby resorting to self help.
The revered monarch equally come to the defense of the Federal Government on the tax reform bill, saying the reform will be beneficial to Nigerians if assented by the President.
Oba Odutala called on the National Assembly and Presidency as a matter of urgency to bring sanity into the tax administration of the country in order to avert the total collapse of the economy due to tax suffocation of businesses.
Speaking on Saturday in Ayetoro-Budo-Ota at the annual Festival of Praise organized by his evangelical outreach, the monarch emphasized the need for the government to give small businesses a breathing space with multiple taxation.
He said if President Tinubu gives assent to the tax reform, it will checkmate the excesses of multiple taxation.
“In my submission, I’ve identified multiple taxation as the principal headache that is killing SMEs and in effect, deepening the unemployment crisis.
“The ongoing proposed legislation to harmonize taxation for SMEs. My detailed submission also seeks a Presidential Executive Order collating all current incentives for SMEs and issuing directives for due compliance.
“I want to re-emphasize and strongly recommend that tax harmonization legislation should be preceded by a presidential Executive Order. This will enforce compliance with pro-SMEs initiatives and interventions of the government,” Oba Odutala noted.
He continued: “You know, the economy is in shambles. The Naira is so bad and uncalled for. My advice to Mr. President is, look inward. Please do something that will ameliorate the suffering of the common man. I don’t know who is afraid of the tax reform. If you had gone through the process of the tax reform bill, you will see that at the end of the day, it will be in our own favour. It is even an advice to Mr. President to look into multiple taxation in the country.
“The state collect tax, the local government collect tax, direct or indirectly, multiple tax is killing businesses in Nigeria. So let us think outside the box and allow Mr. President to make this thing work.”
Speaking on the importance of “Festival of Praise”, Oba Odutala said it was necessary because it was a way of celebrating God’s faithfulness on his kingdom.
He said in the last 10years on the throne of his forefathers, Ayetoro-Budo-Ota community has witness relative peace and transformation.
“You see, what we are passing through in the country presently, Nigeria is not the first that will encounter such reform. So whatever the situation is in the country, we have cause to give God all the praise all the time. God is faithful to Nigeria. Despite all we are going through, God is still very, very much faithful to us. So we need to return all the glory back to his holy name.
In his sermon, Pastor J.T Kalejaiye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), said there was the need for the Church in Nigeria to intensify in prayers for the country and communities.
Kalejaiye speaking on the theme of the Festival of Praise, “Prince of Peace”, said Peace does not mean the absence of war but being able to calm down in the face of tribulation.
He said the theme was chosen because it has become obvious that the Church was not praying as it ought to pray.
Kalejaiye said: “You cannot enjoy the God of God without knowing the God of peace. Isaiah 9vs 6. The wicked cannot experience peace even if we keep praying till eternity. Peace is a state of mutual harmony between people or groups. Nigeria lost glory can be restored.
“No one is above problems or challenges. A closed mouth is a closed destiny. Nigerians should cry unto God. God still answers prayer. You may not have a godfather but if you have God in your father your problem is solved. No matter the economy of the jungle, Lion will never eat grass. Things must get better before it gets better. Please always say good things about Nigeria, Nigeria is a great country and by God’s grace we shall overcome.”
Highlight of the Festival of Praise include, soul lifting gospel songs from Apekeola, Elijah Olorunkosobe, Tungba lyricist Kay Wonder, and Bisi Alawiye.
