By Amos Tauna
Kaduna (Nigeria) — The Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Debt and Senator representing Kaduna Central,North west Nigeria Shehu Sani, has vowed not to be party to a situation that will plunge Kaduna State into debt that the unborn generation will suffer for.
He explained that no amount of politics, protests or pressure will make him to compromise on anything that does not follow the due process.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna Monday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Centre, he said with the situation Kaduna State found itself, if the loan is eventually approved, saying that in the next three to five decades, the state may not be able to pay the loan.
“It is not a matter of Senator Shehu Sani been a blocking stone to the loan, but as a Senator representing my people at the Senate, I have a duty to ensure that things are done the way they ought to be done and that the next generation should not come and meet debt they cannot pay.
“If we borrow such amount of money and the money is not use according to what the money is meant for, the danger is that people may not trace the name of those who sought the loan but my name as the Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debt that will appear on the file as the person who append his signature on the file,” he explained.
Shehu Sani added, “If the senate must sign the loan, the senate must be satisfied beyond any reasonable doubt that the loan must reflect the projects.
“Even if my committee approved the loan, it will still come back to the floor of the Senate for final approval. Passing a loan request required a lot of processes and all these processes will be done in public and not behind a closed door.”
Senator Shehu Sani cautioned that people should not be brainwashed by going on the streets of Kaduna to stage a protest on the issue regarding the loan, saying he is a symbol of protest in Kaduna State without been paid for by anybody.
“I am a symbol of protests especially in Kaduna State without anybody paying me to do so, so whoever is doing protest in Kaduna is learning from me,” he said.
He explained further that out of the twenty two states seeking the loan, thirteen of them have been approved while nine states including Kaduna are awaiting approval..