Hundreds of demonstrators yesterday, stormed the Enugu House of Assembly complex, protesting alleged plans by the lawmakers to approve a loan of N11 billion for the state government.
The demonstrators, who were led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Chief Okey Ezea, expressed disapproval of such an action by the assembly urging the legislators to reject the proposal in the interest of the people of the state.
Ezea said: “These young men and women are here to demonstrate their rejection of the planned approval by the House of a loan of N11 billion for a state government that has come to the end of its term.
“We are saying that before now, if you go to the Debt Management Office, Enugu State as at January 31, 2015, owes N12.061billion and somebody wants to take another loan of N11billion. When will Enugu people complete the payment of such loan? The lives of our children are at stake, hospitals are not working in Enugu State; the educational system is not working in Enugu State. All these children are paying N150, 000 in Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) and Institute of Management Technology (IMT).
“Please, we want to tell you that our people in Enugu State, say ‘no’ to this loan; otherwise, this is not how a legislature passes bills. You cannot surreptitiously sit down here and approve N11billion, a loan, which Enugu people will continue to pay till we die.
“We are urging you to remain the conscience of the society, we are urging you to even go back to your constituencies to find out whether your constituents approve of this move; otherwise it will be on record that this particular House has done things against the interest of the people.”
Addressing the protesters, the Speaker, Eugene Odo, commended the peaceful nature of the demonstration, pointing out that every indigene of Enugu State has the right to air his view or opinion, just as he noted that the Assembly represents the 24 constituencies of Enugu State and accordingly have been representing the people to the best of their abilities. Said he: “The fact is that we are running an open government. There is a request of-course, by the executive demanding for the approval of same. So, the House of Assembly, whose responsibility it is to deliberate and decide unfortunately has not done so.”
The demonstrators, who were led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Chief Okey Ezea, expressed disapproval of such an action by the assembly urging the legislators to reject the proposal in the interest of the people of the state.
Ezea said: “These young men and women are here to demonstrate their rejection of the planned approval by the House of a loan of N11 billion for a state government that has come to the end of its term.
“We are saying that before now, if you go to the Debt Management Office, Enugu State as at January 31, 2015, owes N12.061billion and somebody wants to take another loan of N11billion. When will Enugu people complete the payment of such loan? The lives of our children are at stake, hospitals are not working in Enugu State; the educational system is not working in Enugu State. All these children are paying N150, 000 in Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) and Institute of Management Technology (IMT).
“Please, we want to tell you that our people in Enugu State, say ‘no’ to this loan; otherwise, this is not how a legislature passes bills. You cannot surreptitiously sit down here and approve N11billion, a loan, which Enugu people will continue to pay till we die.
“We are urging you to remain the conscience of the society, we are urging you to even go back to your constituencies to find out whether your constituents approve of this move; otherwise it will be on record that this particular House has done things against the interest of the people.”
Addressing the protesters, the Speaker, Eugene Odo, commended the peaceful nature of the demonstration, pointing out that every indigene of Enugu State has the right to air his view or opinion, just as he noted that the Assembly represents the 24 constituencies of Enugu State and accordingly have been representing the people to the best of their abilities. Said he: “The fact is that we are running an open government. There is a request of-course, by the executive demanding for the approval of same. So, the House of Assembly, whose responsibility it is to deliberate and decide unfortunately has not done so.”
We equally want to thank you for airing your views on the matter.”
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