$29.96bn loan: Don’t join Buhari to ‘ruin’ Nigeria, Fayose tells Saraki

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has urged Senate President Bukola Saraki not to “join the federal government in ruining Nigeria” through supporting the $29.96 billion loan request of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fayose, who appealed to the senate president to “pitch his tent with Nigerians” by kicking against the loan, said doing otherwise would mean that Saraki had joined those working to destroy Nigeria.

“Senator Saraki must know that no matter how much he tries to warm himself into the hearts of the Aso Villa cabal, they can never love him and accept him into their fold,” Fayose said in a statement issued on his behalf by Lere Olayinka, his spokesman.

“What is the economic sense in taking over N12 trillion loan so as to be able to spend more money during economic recession? How can a nation be proposing to spend more money when its income has reduced considerably?

“Yes, it is being argued that nations in recession must spend to get out of recession, but in the case of Nigeria, how do we pay back when as at today, 30 percent of our income is being used to service debt? What will happen to our economy when over 60 percent of our income is being used to service debt?”

“Many States in Nigeria are unable to pay workers salary now because of the huge debt left behind by past governments.”

“When the senate unanimously threw out President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for external loan of $29.96 billion, many Nigerian heaved a sigh of relief and hailed the Senate.

“However, unfolding events in the last few days suggest a dangerous alliance between the presidency and the Senate President Bukola Saraki to ensure the approval of the $29.96 billion loan at all cost.”

He alleged that feelers getting to the public suggest that the ongoing Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) trial of Saraki is being used as blackmail to get him to back the loan.

“Senator Saraki should be mindful that the $29.9 billion loan will do incalculable damage to the country’s ailing economy because of the amount presently being used by the federal government to service loan monthly,” he said.

“Therefore, Saraki must not allow himself to be seen as using the future of Nigeria as negotiation for his own interests.

“He must know that no matter what he does to the Aso Villa cabal to achieve their aims, it won’t change their minds concerning his travails.

“He should be reminded that despite that he assisted the Aso Villa cabal to pass the controversial 2016 budget and cleared all the ministerial nominees, they never stopped plotting to bring him down.

“This time around therefore, the senate president should be mindful of riding on the back of this political tiger that is roaring to consume everyone as he can only get momentary reprieve. He will eventually end in the stomach of the tiger!

“Senator Saraki should remember that only the cowards die many times before their death. Even if he gives his life as ransom for President Buhari, that won’t stop his persecution.

“Instead of collaborating with the Aso Villa cabal to plunge the present and future generations of Nigerians into the bondage of debt, Senator Saraki should pitch his tent with Nigerians, who are against the $29.96 billion loan and write his name in gold, like Senator Ken Nnamani did when he rejected Obasanjo’s third term agenda.”