Dr. Emmah Isong, the Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency, has pledged to report to the EFCC any politician, including local government chairmen and commissioners, who approaches him with the purpose of bribing him with revenue points to ignore illicit taxation in the state.
Dr. Isong also promised to reveal politicians in the state who are responsible for unlawful taxation by naming and humiliating them, characterizing them as enemies of the people and the state.
Bishop Isong made the promise in Calabar in response to observations and actions of obstinate tax consultants claiming to represent local government councils and government MDAs.
He claimed that politicians were enemies of the people and democracy and that as a result, they did not merit to be a part of the state’s democratic family.
“I will not hesitate to expose and report to EFCC, any local government Chairman or Commissioner who approaches me with the intentions of inducement with revenue point(s), money, enough is enough.
“As I speak, I have evidence of 12 of such politicians who have visited me with such intentions, this should be a note of warning to others who still have such intention and engaging in this illicit act, don’t even try to approach me in a bid to dissuade me from doing what is right.
“I will profile the names of politicians who are constantly recalcitrant to His Excellency’s ( Gov Ayade) policy on taxes and give the electorate option rejecting such human beings into our democratic family.
“That does not look like a gun or the judiciary system but my little contribution at the end of this office, I will publish their name if they continue in this activity.
“When we arrest some of these boys we interview them and they mention their names, these are my evidence so I am not going to be mentioning people’s names because I don’t like your suit but because you are part of it.
“Parties can nominate them but they must fail elections at the local government because they are enemies of the people and enemies of democracy.
“How do you know that a particular local government chairman is not part of the system if you are the chairman of XYZ local government, and my streets are filled with boys wearing uniforms and carrying ID Cards and attacking people, you don’t need rocket science to know they are involved.”
He went on to say that the governor’s anti-illegal taxes stance had not weakened and was still in place.
“We are not frightened by the shylock tax agents who continue to extort the people, illegal taxes is an economic crime and we will also partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to prosecute the politicians behind this act,” he added.
