It wasn't politically motivated - Oyo State Government gives reason for closing down Obasanjo’s farms in Ibadan

Bicci Alli, who is the chairman Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, has said the closure of Obasanjo farms in Ibadan was not politically motivated as being speculated.

The board chairman said this in Ibadan on Thursday while reacting to the closure of the business of a former president, 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 the due process,” he said.

“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.

He further urged Nigerians to separate statutory duties and functions from politics.

Mr Alli noted 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 said.