Report has indicated that the 36 state governors reconsidered their initial rejection of the tax reform bills because of a strained relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima caused by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.
The governors, through the National Economic Council (NEC), had, late last year, called on Tinubu to withdraw the bills to allow for broader consultations.
However, the governors on Thursday unanimously endorsed a revised version of the bills, specifically the derivation principle in the sharing of value-added tax (VAT).
An investigation conducted by The Whistler revealed that Tinubu was piqued by the open involvement of Zulum, in a media campaign to shoot down the bills.
Having succeeded Shettima as Borno governor in 2019, Zulum was seen as fighting a proxy war for his mentor and political godfather.
Zulum had warned that the bill could have devastating consequences for the Northern region and other parts of the country as well.
Even though the president and his close allies did not openly react directly to Zulum’s criticisms, sources at the presidential villa said the governor’s action strained the relationship between the president and his deputy.
“Nigerians know the relationship between the Borno State governor and vice president just as they know the relationship between the Lagos State governor and the president. The voice of the governor of Lagos State might be taken for that of the president, who is his political godfather.
“It’s in the same way Zulum’s action could be seen as signifying Shettima’s position on any issue, rightly or wrongly. So people may not be too wrong if they say it’s a case of Esau’s hand, Jacob’s voice,” a presidential source told the aforementioned publication.
The source further confirmed that the NEC, chaired by the vice president, had to intervene to thaw the icy relationship between Tinubu and Shettima.
“That was why the governors, on the platform of the Nigeria Governors Forum, had to review their initial position on the bills and endorse an amended version of the documents,” the source added.