The presidential aspirant in the last general election, Chief CBN Onwuasoanya Ezendigbo, has delivered a hard-hitting critique of Nigeria’s governance system, questioning the logic behind taxation, security failures, and infrastructural decay in the country.
According to Ezendigbo, taxation in any functional society is meant to serve clear purposes: to secure lives and property, employ citizens, construct quality roads, fund public services, and maintain order through security forces. However, he questioned whether these objectives are being fulfilled in Nigeria.
“People pay tax to fund government operations. But do government officials who collect these taxes also pay tax? How do they declare and account for this money?” he asked.
Double Burden on Citizens
Ezendigbo lamented that despite paying taxes, Nigerians are still forced to spend extra money for basic safety. He cited examples of citizens paying road safety levies, enduring multiple police checkpoints that cause traffic jams, and still being left vulnerable to crime.
“After paying tax, people still pay for road safety. They still meet police on the road extorting money, causing traffic congestion. What exactly are we paying for?” he queried.
Security Without Systems
The former aspirant also criticized the poor response culture within the police force, describing situations where officers ignore public disturbances unless a formal report is made at the station.
“You can see people fighting on the road, and a police officer will pass and say, ‘They have not come to the station to report.’ That is not policing. That is negligence,” he stated.
Energy, Surveillance, and Development
Ezendigbo stressed that Nigeria’s development struggles are tied to its lack of reliable energy infrastructure, particularly the absence of nuclear energy and modern surveillance systems.
“Nigerians are ready to bring businesses into this country, but there is no stable power. If we have nuclear energy, we can guarantee security. We will have cameras, intelligence systems, and proper monitoring,” he said.
Airport Charges and Broken Roads
He further questioned why citizens are charged for basic services at public facilities, citing airport trolley fees as an example.
“Why should someone pay money to use a trolley at the airport just to move luggage to their car?” he asked.
On road infrastructure, Ezendigbo criticized the irony of agencies tasked with road safety operating on dangerous and non-motorable roads.
“Road safety agencies are meant to protect lives, yet the roads themselves are not safe. Many are not even motorable,” he said.
A Call for Honest Self-Reflection
Concluding his remarks, Ezendigbo emphasized that his political ambition is not driven by desperation for power, but by a desire for practical change.
“I am not desperate to become president. I am desperate to do things differently. Africans must stop misleading themselves. We need solutions that actually work,” he concluded.
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