Most of us were absent when Buhari’s $22.7b loan was approved – South East lawmakers

South East Federal Lawmakers on Thursday claimed that most of them were out for oversight functions when the Senate passed the $22.7 billion loan request which excluded the region.
But some senators such as Obinna Ogba, Ifyeanyi Ubah and Eyinnaya Abaribe were on the floor when the loan was considered.
The Senate had last week passed the $22.7 billion loan requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The South East was allegedly excluded in the projects to be executed from the $22.7 billion loan.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday, the immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerrmadu, said they held a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the need to accommodate the region in the loan.
He said the leadership of the National Assembly during interactive session showed commitment to address the issue raised concerning the exclusion of the South East in the loan.
Ekweremadu, who briefed the press in the company of Abaribe, Rochas Okorocha and members of the House Representatives, assured that the matter would be revisited.
He said: “Some of our concerns, in the last National Assembly, there was a borrowing plan presented by the Government and for some obvious reasons, especially the issue of exclusion, it was not taken.
“So it has been returned to the present National Assembly.
“Regrettably, last Thursday, the Senate passed the borrowing plan, which excluded the entire South East.
“We like to thank our colleagues who stood their ground, made spirited efforts to ensure there is equitable distribution.
“Those of us who were not in chambers, we went for the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) retreat on electoral reform.
“We met as a caucus of the South East of the National Assembly last night after consulting with our people and getting their feelings regarding the issue.
“We decided that the best approach would be a constructive engagement with the National Assembly leadership.
“This afternoon we had a very good conversation with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and we had a meaningful discussion.
“They showed not just concern, but commitment to addressing these issues and they have promised that the matter would either be revisited or as it has not been passed in the House, appropriate thing would be done and our people’s fears would be assuaged.
“We believe that Equity is the way for progress in our country.
“We need equitable distribution of this loan facilities.
“Whatever the Federal Government presented was a borrowing plan.
“So there is still opportunity for us to look at the distribution so that all Nigerians would have a sense of belonging with the way the loan would be managed because every part of Nigeria would be part and parcel of the repayment.
“It is common sense.”