Borno State Governor, Babagana Umar Zulum opines that President Bola Tinubu would not be able to get more than three governors who are in support of the newly introduced tax reform bill.

Zulum made this known in an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, November 1 after the bill passed its second reading in the Senate.

According to him, the bill which continues to face stiff resistance from different quarters, especially from elites in Northern Nigeria, will cause backwardness in the North and Nigeria in general.

The Northern Governors Forum, the Northern Elders Forum, the National Economic Council, and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, among others, have openly called for the withdrawal of the bills on the grounds that they do not reflect the region’s interests.

He, however, stated that President Bola Tinubu has the power to ensure the tax reform bill is passed despite the backlash it has received from major stakeholders.

Zulum in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, said: “We know the power of the president. I’m a system man; I respect him.

“If the president wants to use his power to pass the tax bill, he may have his way, but it has its consequences for the people.”

So far, not up to three governors across the 36 states of the federation are in support of the bill.

“As of now, you cannot get 3 governors in Nigeria that are in support of this Tax law,” he stated.

Recall that Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, recently came under fire by Northern youths when he said in an interview with BBC Hausa that the Senate allowed the bill to pass for second reading because the lawmakers wanted to give room for broader conversation from experts and Nigerians.