Preselect Bola Tinubu on Wednesday appealed to Nigerians to eschew ethnic and religious rivalries as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir around the world. Tinubu stressed the need for unity and cooperation. The Preselect who made this known while speaking to reporters after observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at Dodan Barracks prayer ground in Lagos reaffirmed that Nigerians will have to make sacrifices.
Tinubu asked Nigerians to have faith in God that the country will experience peace, stability and prosperity, adding that Allah would not burden the country with what it cannot bear, a statement issued by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, said on Wednesday.
He said, ''I thank Almighty Allah for keeping us in good health till today and pray to Him to grant us robust health and prosperity. May our sacrifices turn into prosperity. We have to make the sacrifices and that is clear, we have to.
''But Allah will not give you a burden you cannot carry. He is there for us. We must have faith in the country. Have faith in ourselves, believing that as citizens of this country, we must join hands to build the nation.”
''No religious identity, no tribal identity, let us live with one another in joy and prosperity. Nigeria will see peace and stability and God will grant peace to those of us at the war front," he added.
The Preselect also used the occasion to pray for Nigerian troops fighting terrorists and other forms of insurgency, noting that it is his earnest desire and that of the nation that they emerge victorious.
Earlier on Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that Nigerians on Twitter and Facebook rejected the newly imposed N1,000 mandatory annual payment for Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) verification by all motorists introduced by the Tinubu-led administration.
The Lagos State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola announced the levy on Tuesday. Toriola disclosed that the levy was introduced by the Federal Government Joint Tax Board.
According to Toriola, the Proof of Ownership Certificate will serve as valid proof that a vehicle is legally owned by the registered individual or entity and will contain vital information such as licence plate number, model and year of manufacture, in addition to the owner’s name and address.
He added that the document will be issued at the point of renewing vehicle particulars at a minimal fee of One Thousand Naira Only (₦1000).
This comes less than a month after Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidies with no cushion or palliatives to alleviate the suffering of the people.
The introduction of the levy has widely drawn criticism from Nigerians who see it as further means of putting more burden on the people and causing them untold hardship.