Days after Nigeria’s House of Representatives suspended the consideration of President Buhari’s $22.7bn loan request, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed that the loan request was suspended over the reported sidelining of the south-east.
This was disclosed by the Speaker when he hosted leaders of Faith Forum from the south-south and south-east in Abuja on Wednesday March 18.
Gbajabiamila stated that though the federal government believes the loan is important, all regions ought to be captured in the spending plan.
He said;
“If government believes that there’s need for the loan, I think we should support that, because they know as they’re the ones that see what is needed and what is not needed.
“What I think for me is more important is the equity of the law and whether or not we’re able to distribute these things fairly considering the very nature of the structure of our country.
“I know there has been a lot of agitation about the south-east not benefiting from the loan. It is one of the reasons we haven’t considered the loan in the house. I’ve discussed with the finance minister and the DG budget (office).
“It’s a matter that we’re looking at seriously. I’m hoping that there will be some kind of amicable resolution so that everybody will be carried along. Equity suggests that all zones must be carried along.”
He added that that they will work towards a fair resolution that will unite the country.
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