By Abdulateeef Bamgbose
Thousands of youths from the 19 northern states yesterday staged a solidarity rally in support of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, describing him as the “Sardauna of our era.”
The peaceful rally was held at the entrance of the National Assembly, Abuja, with the youths singing the praises of the deputy Senate president.
According to them, the rally was organised to warn those attacking Jibrin over last Wednesday’s resolution of the Senate allowing tax reform experts access to the chamber to make presentations during plenary on the Tax Reform Bills.
Barau, had during plenary, said the experts, including the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, should be allowed to educate senators and Nigerians on the Tax Reform Bills.
Carrying banners with various inscriptions such as ‘Senator Barau: The Sardauna of our era,’ ‘Senator Barau is the new leader of the north,’ ‘Stop attacking Senator Barau,’ ‘Leave Senator Barau alone,’ among others, they said Barau remains the best senator from the north, given his sponsorship of the North West Development Commission, NWDC, Bill.
A former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Tijjani Mohammed said the deputy Senate president had neither supported nor kicked against the Tax Reform Bills, instead he pushed for the sensitisation of Nigerians.
