Reps To Probe Alleged Exclusion Of Rivers State From Loan Projects

The House of Representatives has decided to look into the purported exclusion of Rivers State from the pool of states eligible for international bank loans.

Governor Nysom Wike had previously claimed that the federal government had singled out his state as not being eligible for the loans.

The governor also claimed that River State was left out of the initial list of states set to benefit.

Solomon Bob of Rivers State moved a motion for a probe into the claim at Wednesday’s plenary session.

President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted a loan request to the National Assembly for approval of a $4 billion and €710 million external loan.

While introducing the motion, Bob stated that the “claimed exclusion” could be interpreted as “partisan vindictiveness towards the people of the state over differences of opinion on national issues.”

Idris Wase, the Deputy Speaker of the House, spoke out against the motion, claiming that it was not important enough to be debated as part of the House’s urgent public business.

He requested that the motion be withdrawn and put on the table for further consideration.

The legislator from Rivers, however, refused to withdraw his support, instead amending the request to declare that if Rivers State is the sole state exempted, it should be added.

The House of Representatives approved the prayer.