The Anambra State Government has inadvertently validated Peter Obi’s claims on SABMiller Breweries being the highest manufacturing tax contributor in the state while attempting to debunk the former governor’s statement.
A post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the official handle of the Anambra State New Media, accompanied by a document from the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS), sought to fact-check Obi’s statement.
However, the same document revealed that SABMiller—listed as “International Breweries Plc”—is the only manufacturing company among the state’s top six corporate taxpayers in 2023 and 2024.
While banks like First Bank, Zenith, and Access ranked higher in total PAYE and WHT contributions, observers quickly pointed out that all other names on the list were financial institutions, not industrial producers.
Morris Monye, the director of mobilisation for the Obidient movement, called it an “own goal,” arguing that the attempt to discredit Obi actually reinforced his point. “See own goal. The handler of this account didn’t think this through. What are the top 5 on the list producing? Imagine if there were no SABMILLER. Serious own goal,” Monye wrote on X.
Several other Nigerians echoed similar sentiments in reaction to the government’s post. @truthsocial stated, “PO is linked to 2 of the 6 highest PAYE companies in Anambra. VAT + corporate tax, SAB is ahead. Number of people employed. Business value chain. SAB is the only production company on the list.”
Chibueze Nzeribe added, “Mr. Peter Obi is an enigma of a productive economy. So, aside from banks, the SABMiller company is the highest taxpayer? Where are the lies from the most frugal man ever produced in Nigeria?”
The AiRS statement, signed by Dr. Greg U. Ezeilo, Chairman of the agency, confirmed that SABMiller paid a total of ₦656.5 million in gross taxes over two years. While this placed the company sixth on the list of top tax contributors, it remained the only non-financial and industrial company featured.
Despite attempts to discredit Obi’s statement, commenters observed that the numbers provided by Soludo’s own administration reinforce the former governor’s long-standing emphasis on productive investment and industrial development.
Observers also questioned the rationale behind trying to downplay the importance of a manufacturing entity like SABMiller, especially in a state where economic diversification and job creation remain key challenges. “The person who posted that thing just proved PO right. I know PO is very careful with words,” wrote @mayorchinemere.
Another user, @FrankResponses, emphasised that the context matters: “SAB is the only production company on the list.”
Critics of Soludo’s administration argue that the post only served to bolster Obi’s economic philosophy, contrasting it with what they describe as Soludo’s obsession with optics rather than substance.
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