From Petrus Obi, Enugu
South East indigenes have called for inclusion of the Second Niger Bridge, Enugu Coal-Power, Maiduguri-Port Harcourt Railway, as well as the Adani-Anambra Rice projects in the list of projects lined up in President Muhammadu Buhari’s external borrowing plans.
The indigenes, who spoke at the weekend, through the Publicity Secretary of Enugu State chapter of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO), Chief Eze Chibueze, commended the president for “his laudable and patriotic programme of infrastructure upgrade” and appealed that the listed projects be included in ‘Buhari Infrastructure Renewal.’
“We are making this plea for inclusion of Enugu Coal to Power, the Second Niger Bridge, Maiduguri-Port Harcourt Railway and Adani-Anambra Rice projects in the Buhari Infrastructure Renewal segment of the Federal Government External Borrowing Plan 2016, 2017 and 2018.
“This is because of our understanding that the creditors predicated their transaction on the Integrity Quotient of Mr. President.
“We are making this plea because most Nigerians are as well receptive of the loan because of the integrity quotient of Mr. President; knowing full well that the loan will be prudently managed. We also believe that president Buhari may not borrow again, in the next eight years.
“We reaffirm our support for the loan because of the truism that Mr. President is handicapped by the culture of impunity, the collapse of oil prices and the unprecedented looting which took place, hence, the general infrastructure deficit.
“We are gratified that majority of Nigerians have come to the conclusion that without Buhari’s Infrastructure Renewal, we will remain trapped in gross unemployment, abject poverty and weak infrastructure.
“Consequently, we appeal to the National Assembly and, indeed, all Nigerians, to support Buhari’s Infrastructure Renewal, the only patriotic and viable means to renew our critical social and physical infrastructure.”