Thousands of youth from across the 19 Northern States of the country staged a solidarity rally on Tuesday in support of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, describing him as the “Sardauna of our era.”
The peaceful rally was held at the entrance of the National Assembly, Abuja, with the youth singing the praises of the Deputy President of the Senate.
According to them, the rally was organised to warn those attacking the Deputy President of the Senate over last Wednesday’s resolution of the Senate allowing tax reform experts access to the chamber of the Senate to make presentations during the plenary session on the Tax Reform Bills.
Barau had, during the plenary session, said that the experts, including the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, should be allowed to educate the Senators and Nigerians on the Tax Reform Bills.
Carrying banners with various inscriptions including: “Senator Barau: The Sardauna of our era”,” Senator Barau is the new leader of the North”, ” Stop attacking Senator Barau”, ” Leave Senator Barau alone”, ” Senator Barau: The pro-masses lawmaker,” they said Barau remains the best Senator in the North, given his sponsorship of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) bill.
A former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Tijjani Kabiru Mohammed, said the Deputy President of the Senate has neither supported nor kicked against the Tax Reform Bills; instead, he pushed for the sensitization of Nigerians.
Comrade Tijjani Kabiru Mohammed said “We are here today from all the 19 Northern States of Nigeria. We are here today in solidarity with the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin. We are here today to pass a vote of confidence on Senator Barau I Jibrin. He is the Sardauna of our era. He has done marvelous well. In this assembly, he is the best Senator in the North given his bill on the North West Development Commission, NWDC. Let me tell you, if the challenges of the North West are addressed, more than half of our challenges in the country will be addressed.
“And let me tell you one thing: to those who, for the past few days, have been attacking Senator Barau, are the enemies of the north, enemies of Nigeria, enemies of our generation, enemies of progress, let them cease.
“We are not against reforms, including tax reform and whatever will fast-track our region’s development, and indeed, the entire country would be supported by us.
“We pray that Mr. President will not relent. The President of the Senate, supported by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau, should continue to work together to provide the needed legislation to address the challenges facing our beloved country.” he concluded
