Why Reps suspended FG $22.7bn loan

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has urged religious leaders to always pray for Nigerian leaders for better leadership.
Speaking when he hosted Leaders of Faith Forum from the South South and Southeast in Abuja on Wednesday, Gbajabiamila also urged the clerics to avail Nigerian leaders their wisdom and knowledge, especially in the areas of politics and governance.
“I want to say that please do not forget us in your prayers. We should never cease in prayers. For those of us who are in the eye of the storm in government, we will really love that. Keep us in your prayers.
“We can have continuous engagements. This is the first, but hopefully not the last. I like the fact that you’re involved in issues of politics and governance. From time to time, you need to borrow us your wisdom and knowledge in those areas,” he said.
Responding to the position of the Leaders of Faith Forum that the Nigerian Government should completly jettison the idea of taking a foreign loan of $22.7bn at this time, Gbajabiamila said the issue is debatable and that government should be given the benefit of the doubt.
The Speaker said it was because of the agitation that the Southeast would not benefit from the loan that the House stepped down its consideration, and that he had personally spoken with Finance Minister and the Director General of the Budget Office to find a solution.
“You said there is no need for the loan at this time, but that itself is debatable. If government believes that there is 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.