NewAfricanWoman Issue 35 - Flipbook - Page 35
Buhariphobia
In its final months in office the Goodluck Jonathan government toyed with the idea of imposing a tax on champagne, private jets, and luxury cars. It hasn’t happened
yet, but is likely to be revisited by the new government,
under pressure to fund the budget in a period of declining oil prices. The luxury tax, if imposed, will curb some
of the overwhelming Nigerian appetite for bling. But the
dent won’t be much; the only thing likely to serve as a
successful restraint on the extravagant desires of the
wealthiest will be the fear of President Buhari.
He came to power with a reputation as a no-nonsense military general with a firm belief in the power
of a prison term to set aright greedy government officials and politicians. On that score, he hasn’t disappointed, launching revealing probes into the affairs
of several government agencies, and taking steps to
plug longstanding revenue leaks. Since he took office,
the private jet and luxury car and real estate markets
have taken a hit. Not only isn’t there as much freeflowing cash as in the past, but in the Age of Buhari
the widespread belief is that conspicuous consumption is more than likely to attract the attention of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).