The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep Kingsley Chinda, has strongly defended the recent passage of the Tax Reform Bill, he also rubbished allegations of financial enticement in the approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State, and called for internal discipline within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the Supreme Court ruling on its national secretaryship dispute.
Chinda made these remarks while speaking with members of the National Assembly New Media Forum, who paid him a congratulatory visit in his office at the National Assembly on Wednesday to celebrate his birthday.
Addressing concerns over the tax reform process,Rep. Chinda emphasized that the bill underwent rigorous scrutiny to ensure it served Nigerians’ best interests. He stated that the opposition played a critical role in reshaping the legislation to make it more people-friendly.
“We saw that the bill, as originally presented, was not favorable enough for Nigerians. We engaged stakeholders, including governors, state assemblies, and religious groups, to address contentious areas before passing it,” he said.
He maintained that while the bill is not perfect, it is a significant improvement and a step towards a more effective tax system.
Commenting on the ongoing leadership tussle within the PDP, Chinda criticized the misinterpretation of the Supreme Court judgment, which upheld the legitimacy of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary.
He urged party members to respect the ruling and avoid unnecessary confusion.
“Judgments are not given for convenience; they must be respected. Our national legal adviser is in the best position to interpret the ruling, and it should not be misrepresented by party officials for personal interests,” he warned.
On the controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Chinda dismissed allegations that lawmakers were bribed to approve it.
He explained that the decision was based on security concerns and followed due legislative process.
“We had an executive session where members were given classified security information about the situation. It was not about money; it was about preventing loss of lives and stabilizing the state,” he stated.
He also refuted comparisons between the Rivers crisis and the recent disturbances in Lagos, noted that the Rivers situation involved a direct conflict between the executive and legislative arms of government, making it more volatile.
“Declaring a state of emergency is not a routine action it is based on necessity. In Lagos, the crisis was short-lived and confined to the legislature, unlike Rivers, where the standoff threatened governance and public order,” he explained.
Speaking on the growing distrust in the judiciary, Chinda argued that the crisis of confidence extends beyond the judiciary to all sectors of the country, including the media. He called for responsible journalism and fact-based reporting.
“The media must prioritize investigative journalism instead of spreading unchecked social media reports that fuel misinformation and division,” he said.
A highlight of the visit was the presentation of a gigantic birthday card to the Minority Leader by members of the National Assembly New Media Forum, in recognition of his leadership and contributions to national development.
With these clarifications, the Minority Leader reaffirmed his commitment to responsible opposition, emphasized that constructive engagement, rather than public clashes, remained the most effective way to achieve legislative success for Nigerians.
