Governor Nyesom Wike has threatened to seize offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service in Rivers state, citing “bullying.” “You Don’t Bully A State Like Us. FIRS Should Be Very Careful– Governor Wike Challenges
Wike told Shell Petroleum Development Company and other representatives of oil firms and business owners in the state that income made in Rivers is not meant for “Abuja people,” but for the growth of his state.
The Governor said;
“People say that let heaven not fall but sometimes I believe that heaven should come down so that everybody will rest…When we do the right thing, heaven is at peace. So, the right thing must be done at all times.
“Rivers State is challenging FIRS from collecting VAT in Rivers State. I am not challenging FIRS from collecting VAT in Abuja. Let it be understood. But the law says Rivers must collect VAT in the state.”
“The Federal Government surreptitiously lobbied to amend the constitution to place VAT collection under the exclusive legislative list
“We have challenged it and we have no apologies to anybody.
“I don’t want to be in the good book of anybody but in the good book of God.
“You don’t bully a state like us. FIRS should be very careful. I have the political will to do a lot of things. If they continue to bully us, I will take all their offices in the state.”
Wike, who said the Rivers State government will begin collecting VAT in September, advised oil companies and business owners not to send their VAT to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), but rather to the Rivers State government.
He said;
“I don’t want you to fall prey of the people who think they can use force to take our money.
“If you want to take advantage and say you don’t know who to pay to, it is a lie, you know.
“From this September, we will start collecting our VAT.
“We will not look back but seal up the premises of such companies.”
