Mr Ebubeagu Ekenulo, a renowned activist in the South East, says the landmark achievements recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari is attracting scores of opposition members and their leaders to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ekenulo made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, the opposition being led in the country by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are excited with the tremendous development strides achieved by Buhari amidst security challenges, economic recession and COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

He described the defection of Chief Charles Ezekwem, former PDP chairman in Imo together with other PDP stakeholders to the APC, as a testimony of the President’s APC-led administration’s landmark achievements.

Ekenulo, who described Ezekwem as an astute administrator and visionary politician, said his defection was informed by his passion for good leadership.

Read Also: Republic Of Biafra Has Come To Stay – Cleric

The activist explained that Ezekwem was moved by the track records of the Buhari-led APC at both the national and state levels.

“Charles Babatunde Ezekwem is not a mole but a patriot and selfless politician with a bold heart to return Nigeria and Imo to the path of progress.

“He defected to APC with a large chunk of Imo PDP state and many local government executive members, and a multitude of stakeholders to show solidarity to President Buhari and Chief Hope Uzodimma,” he said.

Ekunulo called on the remaining PDP members in Imo to support the APC led administration in the state to restore the lost glory of the state and Nigeria “that was battered by PDP’s failed leadership”.

According to him, Ezekwem left PDP for the greater good of Imo in spite of the fact that he built the party all alone.

Ekenulo, who expressed optimism of a future prosperous Imo, called on politicians to shun campaigns of calumny and discord but close ranks for a prosperous country.

NAN recalls that Ezekwem, immediate past Imo PDP chairman, resigned from the party in January 2020, ahead of the expiration of his tenure in August, this year. (NAN)

The house of representatives has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to borrow $22.7 billion.

The green chamber approved the request at Tuesday’s plenary session after it considered the report of its committee on aids, loans and debt management.

When he sent the request in 2019, Buhari said the loan will be used to finance key infrastructures in the country.

But some lawmakers particularly those in the south-east kicked against the move, alleging that the region was excluded in the loan’s implementation plan.

The criticisms had led to the suspension of the loan approval which has now been debated and passed after much plea from Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker.

Gbajabiamila said every step to address the issues raised against the loan request was met by legal blocks “in the sense that agreements have already been made and cannot be approved”.

“So, it is either we approve wholesale or not approve,” he said.

The speaker, however, added that the house was able to get the executive to agree to insert projects from the south-east and north-east into the next borrowing plan.

“For the first time, we added a clause specifying certain projects. We met and demanded the commitment of the executive that these projects must be considered in the next borrowing plan and we got their words,” he said.

“I am only seeking for the understanding of our colleagues from the north-east and south-east. All of us will agree that there is a massive wide infrastructural deficit in this country and we need to bridge that gap.

“I am pleading that you to understand with us and at this point, be nationalistic. Let us not throw away the baby with the bathwater. Mistakes have been made and it has been corrected for the future.”

Buhari first sent the loan request to the previous national assembly under Bukola Saraki but it was rejected.

Mr Ebubeagu Ekenulo, a renowned activist in the South East, says the landmark achievements recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari is attracting scores of opposition members and their leaders to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ekenulo made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, the opposition being led in the country by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are excited with the tremendous development strides achieved by Buhari amidst security challenges, economic recession and COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

He described the defection of Chief Charles Ezekwem, former PDP chairman in Imo together with other PDP stakeholders to the APC, as a testimony of the President’s APC-led administration’s landmark achievements.

Ekenulo, who described Ezekwem as an astute administrator and visionary politician, said his defection was informed by his passion for good leadership.

Read Also: Republic Of Biafra Has Come To Stay – Cleric

The activist explained that Ezekwem was moved by the track records of the Buhari-led APC at both the national and state levels.

“Charles Babatunde Ezekwem is not a mole but a patriot and selfless politician with a bold heart to return Nigeria and Imo to the path of progress.

“He defected to APC with a large chunk of Imo PDP state and many local government executive members, and a multitude of stakeholders to show solidarity to President Buhari and Chief Hope Uzodimma,” he said.

Ekunulo called on the remaining PDP members in Imo to support the APC led administration in the state to restore the lost glory of the state and Nigeria “that was battered by PDP’s failed leadership”.

According to him, Ezekwem left PDP for the greater good of Imo in spite of the fact that he built the party all alone.

Ekenulo, who expressed optimism of a future prosperous Imo, called on politicians to shun campaigns of calumny and discord but close ranks for a prosperous country.

NAN recalls that Ezekwem, immediate past Imo PDP chairman, resigned from the party in January 2020, ahead of the expiration of his tenure in August, this year. (NAN)

The house of representatives has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to borrow $22.7 billion.

The green chamber approved the request at Tuesday’s plenary session after it considered the report of its committee on aids, loans and debt management.

When he sent the request in 2019, Buhari said the loan will be used to finance key infrastructures in the country.

But some lawmakers particularly those in the south-east kicked against the move, alleging that the region was excluded in the loan’s implementation plan.

The criticisms had led to the suspension of the loan approval which has now been debated and passed after much plea from Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker.

Gbajabiamila said every step to address the issues raised against the loan request was met by legal blocks “in the sense that agreements have already been made and cannot be approved”.

“So, it is either we approve wholesale or not approve,” he said.

The speaker, however, added that the house was able to get the executive to agree to insert projects from the south-east and north-east into the next borrowing plan.

“For the first time, we added a clause specifying certain projects. We met and demanded the commitment of the executive that these projects must be considered in the next borrowing plan and we got their words,” he said.

“I am only seeking for the understanding of our colleagues from the north-east and south-east. All of us will agree that there is a massive wide infrastructural deficit in this country and we need to bridge that gap.

“I am pleading that you to understand with us and at this point, be nationalistic. Let us not throw away the baby with the bathwater. Mistakes have been made and it has been corrected for the future.”

Buhari first sent the loan request to the previous national assembly under Bukola Saraki but it was rejected.