Bayelsa PAYE: Sylva thrives on falsehood, propaganda – Dickson’s campaign group
Felix Okoye
The Restoration Campaign Organisation of Governor Seriake Dickson on Thursday said that the governorship candidate of the All progressives Congress, (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva could not differentiate between the Federal and the State government formulated policies especially on the issue of taxes and taxation.
The RCO which specifically accused Sylva of spreading falsehood and propaganda to score political point said the APC governorship candidate wants to get power through “hook, crook and the backdrop.”
Sylva had in a statement accused governor Dickson of formulating a draconian policy with the introduction of PAYE, scholarship awards and free and compulsory education.
In his reaction to the development, the Director of Publicity, RCO, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, said if Sylva could demonstrate his ignorance at this level, then he is not fit to lead the people.
Sylva, according to him, is only being mischievous as he ought to know as a former governor that the issue of PAYE is a Federal government tax policy and it is not applicable to Bayelsa state alone.
The statement reads, “ Dickson did not introduce new taxes to Bayelsans. All he did was to get the people to pay PAYE which is a Federal tax paid by all workers in Nigeria. How does this translate to operating a draconian policy?
“Bayelsans are wiser now, they cannot be hoodwinked by the antics of somebody that was in power for five years and has nothing to show for it except violence.
“Lies and propaganda have become the trade mark of Sylva and his small group of supporters but unfortunately propaganda and lies don’t win election.
“Sylva should embark on issues based campaign not propaganda. He should emulate Governor Dickson by going round all the communities in the state and showcase his achievements while in office.
“The former governor needs to be tutored on what is draconian policy as alleged because we are yet to come to term on the reference he made, especially on free and compulsory education and scholarship to young Bayelsans.
“APC candidate knows that he has lost the support of the people in the state, little wonder, he has now resulted to cheap blackmail”.