By Erewunmi Peace

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has revealed that the Buhari administration was displeased when the House blocked a foreign loan proposal that excluded the South-East geopolitical zone.

Gbajabiamila said that while he led the House, lawmakers refused to approve the loan after discovering that the proposed projects would benefit all regions except the South-East.

The decision was guided by the principles of fairness and federal character, he explained, emphasizing that it would have been unjust for one region to be excluded from projects funded by a national loan.

“The government at the time was not happy with us for taking this position, but it was necessary to ensure equitable development and fairness to all regions,” Gbajabiamila said in a recent statement.

He further explained that the loan was eventually adjusted to include the South-East, demonstrating the House’s role in safeguarding national inclusivity and ensuring that federal projects benefit all geopolitical zones.

The revelation underscores the importance of legislative oversight in federal borrowing and highlights Gbajabiamila’s role in promoting fairness and equitable distribution of national resources.