By : Our correspondent
An N18.2 billion loan request approval by the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, from the Anambra State House of Assembly has polarised the lawmakers.
While the pro-Obiano lawmakers approved the request, those said to have worked against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof Chukwuma Soludo,in the November 6 poll in the state, rejected the demand.
The situation caused pandemonium during the plenary of the house.
Introducing the matter, the Speaker of the Anambra State House of assembly, Uche Okafor, read out a letter from Obiano requesting for the approval of the house for him to access the N18.2bn Federal Government loan .
The Majority leader and member representing Awka South 1 constituency, Nnamdi Okafor while moving the motion for the approval of the governor’s request which was seconded by member representing Orumba North constituency, Emeka Aforka described the loan timely and important to the state .
Amidst thunderous opposition voices against the approval for the loan, the house approved the governor’s request.
Speaking to Journalists after plenary, the member representing Ogbaru 1 constituency, Chukwunonso Nobel Igwe, said, “I am not totally against the loan, but against the process.
“There’s no way the governor will take a loan for the state without stating categorically what he intends to do with the loan.
“It is not in the best interest of the state to hide the purpose of the loan. He has to state what he intends to use the money for. So that he can be checkmated and tracked to know if it was used judiciously.
‘That’s why we kicked against it. Even though the voice vote was against taking the loan, but they ruled us out. It’s not fair. The house has passed it and for people like me who is against it, nothing can be done.
“This is a loan the federal government gives to all the state. Other states stated what they want to do with the loan, but here the governor’s hid intention to us”, Igwe stated.
It was gathered that 14 out the 27 members of the house present rejected the loan request.
