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Members of the opposition. All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Friday clarified that their decision to vote against the approval of the $1bn loan request by President Goodluck Jonathan did not mean they were against the current war against insurgency in the country.

Members of the APC in the upper chamber had kicked against the approval of the loan to procure military hardware, though their counterparts in the Peoples Democratic Party supported it and their voice votes were upheld by Senate President David Mark during plenary on Thursday.

But speaking with our correspondent on the issue, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, (APC, Ekiti Central), said his colleagues were not opposed to endorsing the bid by Jonathan to raise money for the military to combat terrorism but that they were opposed to borrowing money for that purpose.

He also stated that the legislators were against the idea of seeking such approval through a letter of request, instead of bringing a supplementary appropriation bill, as recognised by law.

He said, The Constitution recognises laid-down rules for appropriation and since the procedure adopted by the Presidency contradicted the rules, we dont want to be part of constitution violators. Besides, we dont believe we should borrow money for that purpose.

Also, the leader of the opposition in the Senate, George Akume, said his colleagues voted against the loan approval because they wanted to be guided by the law of the country.

He said his colleagues were opposed to the approval to avoid constitutional breaches, which he said had been frequently recorded in the country for too long.

Akume said, If we want to borrow, let us follow what is stipulated in the Constitution so that we know where we are going. We have raised fundamental issues and the Senate must be guided by the provisions of the Constitution, as far as this matter is concerned

Also, Akume said the opposition party was not against obtaining a loan to fight insurgency, but that the proper process must be followed to get the loan.

He insisted that APC members had raised issues that touched on the Constitution, which superseded the Procurement Act used as defence by the PDP senators.

Read more from the original source:
Why we opposed Jonathans $1bn loan APC senators