No rift with Kwara income company, say Igbo merchants

The parent body of Igbo traders in Kwara State, Igbo Community General Assembly, has said it has no disagreement with the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service.

It also commended the Chief of Staff to the governor, Alhaji Mahe AbdulKadir, and the Senior Adviser to the governor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, for intervening in the impasse between the Igbo traders and the revenue agency.

The union made known in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Community Relations (Igbo) to the governor, Igwebuike Angus.

The statement read in part, “Assuredly, the dexterity and unassuming charisma you both displayed while interfacing with the parties did assert the right narrative. We’re eternally grateful and will continue to contribute our quota towards the development of our dear state.

“Our resolution to both partner, support and identify with developmental strides of the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, is unwavering. The concerted efforts of the government to move Kwara State from a civil service state to a nerve of commerce and industries is our delight as chief drivers.”

Igbo traders, under the aegis of the Igbo Traders Association, shut their shops in various areas of Ilorin recently over what they described as intimidation and over-taxation by the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service.

However, Angus, in the statement, described the Igbo in Kwara state as law-abiding residents who would not want to be dragged into any unnecessary feud with any government agency.

“For us, payment of tax is a mandatory obligation that must be discharged. The record speaks for itself that the Kwara State Government once gave this community an award as ‘Most Responsive Association’ in Kwara concerning tax remittances. On this, we can only say, we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.

“We want the general public to note that what happened on March 1, 2024, which some self-serving actor(s) wants to blow out of proportion is just one of those negotiations that’s typical in any business environment. At no point in time did the Igbo withdraw or withhold their services cum businesses in town.”