Oyo government explains why it closed Obasanjo’s farm, says action not political

The Chairman, Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Bicci Alli, has said that the closure of Obasanjo farms in Ibadan was not politically motivated as being speculated.

The board chairman spoke to newsmen on Thursday while reacting to the closure of the business of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Ibadan.

“Our process and procedures are not driven by political consideration, we work for the state government and the intention is to bring in revenue following due process.

“We have been doing some exercises in the last two days, unfortunately people are trying to read political meanings to our action; we never did that because of politics.

“We went to enforce and restrain the activities in Obasanjo farms in Ibadan because the organisation did not pay what it was supposed to pay as tax.

“I am glad to tell you that they have come back to pay what they are supposed to and their business premises has since been reopened,” he said.

Alli, however, urged Nigerians to separate statutory duties and functions from politics, adding that payment of taxes is statutory and moral duty; which is the civic responsibility of all citizens.

“There is no relationship between tax payment and politics as far as we are concerned and we do the needful whoever is involved we make sure they pay,” he added.

DAILY POST reported that Obasanjo’s farm was one of the sixteen businesses that were sealed for defaulting in the payment of the environmental development levy to the state government.