Amaechi’s Gaffe: FG Only Sought Approval For US$1bn On Jan. 27, Says Senate

Contrary to claims by Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the Senate, on Wednesday, said the first letter received seeking approval for issuance of US$1 billion EuroBond In the international capital market to fund the 2017 budget deficit.
The Senate in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, urged Amaechi to withdraw a statement he made in Ilorin on Monday during the North Central Town Hall meeting by the Federal Government to the effect that the refusal of the National Assembly to approve the request of the government for foreign loan for counterpart funding was frustrating the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna -Kano rail lines.
According to Senator Abdullahi, who is chairman, Senate Committee on Media & Publicity, “as at today, the only request for approval from the Executive for loan was the one dated January 27, 2017 and signed by Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo seeking a “resolution of the National Assembly For the Issuance of US$1 billion Eurobond In the International Capital Market For The Funding of the 2016 Budget Deficit” and we immediately granted the approval.
“Also, in the letter quoted above, the Government mentioned the two rail lines cited by the minister as part of the projects for which the Eurobond will be utilised. So, we cannot understand what the grouse of Mr. Amaechi is.”
The Senate has therefore ordered Amaechi to withdraw the statement it described as “false and misinformed premise strongly as a mere attempt to incite the people against the National Assembly.
“The Minister should therefore withdraw that statement. Furthermore, the National Assembly will take up the matter with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“As a former Speaker of a state House of Assembly, we believe that a minister like Amaechi should always check his facts and refrain from making unguarded and inciting remarks against the legislature.
“What Nigeria needs at this point is for all arms of government to work together and create the synergy necessary to take Nigeria out of the present economic crisis we have found ourselves. Comments designed to infuriate one arm of government or incite the people against another arm of the government will do no one any good and we do not expect such statements from a Minister in the present government”, Abdullahi stated.
The Senate noted that Amaechi’s statement was not only false, misrepresenting and contradictory to available facts, it portrayed the Minister as not in tune with the position of the government in which he is serving.

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