Former Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor of Amanbra state, Peter Obi said Nigeria has moved from the era of padded budgets to a more dangerous phase where laws passed by the National Assembly are allegedly altered before being enforced, warning that it poses a serious threat to constitutional governance and public trust.
In a statement posted on his X handle, Obi claimed there are documented discrepancies between legislation approved by the National Assembly and the versions eventually published and implemented by the executive.
According to him, “All of this must be made public. Nigerians need to understand what was signed, what was passed, and what was formally recorded. We cannot continue to ask citizens to pay more taxes while trust in governance collapses.
“We have transitioned from a Nigeria where budgets are padded to one where laws are forged—changes that impact taxpayers’ rights and, most importantly, access to justice.
Even more alarming is the introduction of new enforcement and coercive powers that the House of Representatives never approved. These include an outrageous requirement for a mandatory 20% deposit before appeals can be heard in court, asset sales without judicial oversight, and the granting of arrest powers to tax authorities.
Perhaps most disturbing is the silence of the Presidency on a matter involving allegations of forgery, institutional sabotage, and abuse of process. Who made these alterations?
We need leadership that follows due process, embraces transparency and accountability, and respects the rule of law. No nation can thrive where laws are forged and silence replaces leadership.”
