A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Aminu Jaji, has said that the north will not suffer should the south insist on holding on to the contentious Value Added Tax (VAT).
The former Zamfara APC governorship aspirant said the region was not moved by the intimidation of the south but concerned about the long-term effect on the unity of the country, insisting that the region can survive without VAT.
Rivers and Lagos Governments are engaged in a legal battle with the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) over collection of VAT in their States, a move vehemently opposed by the Federal Government.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the former lawmaker said northern States have started to up their game by coming up with alternatives to VAT.
Reacting to the tension being generated, the APC Chieftain said: “We (north) are only jittery of the unity not because of what we are going to lose. We are not going to lose anything. If the VAT is controlled by some state governors, there is nothing we (north) will suffer.”
Jaji further said alternative arrangements are being put in place by the north should southern Governors succeed in their bid, hinting that the steps to take to cushion that effect will shock the Southern Governors.
“When our arrangement come on board, those pushing to have control of VAT will be shocked.
“We are arranging on behalf of the north and if not because of the unity of the country, we are 100 percent ready to say let them have the VAT,” he stated.
On insecurity in the northern region, the APC chieftain called for a holistic solution to the crisis insisting there must be a synergy among the security agencies for lasting solution.