Saraki Warns against Politicising Senate Rejection  of Buhari's $30bn Loan

By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
 

Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday in Abuja said the rejection of President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for a foreign loan plan of $30 billion should not be politicised.

 Saraki spoke shortly after he joined the President  for Jumat prayers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 Speaking with State House Correspondents, Saraki said, “I came here to pray, I have finished praying and I just had a general felicitation with the President. It didn’t go beyond that.”

 On the relationship with the executive regarding the loan, Saraki said, “we should not look at that as a reflection of the relationship. 

“Don’t let us politicise very important issues. Our relationship is work in progress and has nothing to do with loans”.

The Senate had on October 25 rejected the request for external borrowing plan of $29.96 billion to finance infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

However, the Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had last Wednesday said that Buhari would re-present the request to the senate.

 Mohammed, while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting, explained that the government would continue to engage lawmakers on need for the loan.

According to him, the senators would approve the request when the government further engage them and make more details available.

“It is not unusual for the government and the Senate to have some disagreements, they want more information.

“We will continue to engage them. We will give them all the information they need”, he said.