Being an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR,, The Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, by the Edo Forum of Patriots 23rd April 2016.
Your Excellencies
Without much ado, the EDO FORUM OF PATRIOTS respectfully appeal to Your Excellencies – as Leaders of the Executive and Legislative arms of our Dear Government, to lay to rest the controversy that was stirred up over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Railway project worth a wooping $11.97billion; which political pundits fear that it can ignite a cold war, and degenerate into ethnic strife between ethnic nationalities that are primary host and perceived antagonists; and other goodies in the 2016 Appropriation Bill might become a Mirage, God forbid.
We strongly and vehemently berates the architects of this controversy that has aggravated the country’s worsening economic woes. Whether the project was not originally included or later ‘smuggled’ into the ‘amended budget’, what is paramount to we (the masses) is the economic imperatives the Lagos-Calabar Rail project will impact on our lives as Edo people, as Niger Deltans, and Nigerians at large; in terms of the unprecedented Commerce for our economy; therefore, the controversy arising from the squabble is petty, irrelevant a radical departure from the totality of our faith in your avowed pledge to serve public interest.
It is sacrosanct that the Executive is Constitutionally mandated to prepare and lay before the National Assembly a proposed budget detailing projects to be executed, the responsibilty and power of appropriation lie with the legislature. If the Executive expects the Legislature to rubber stamp the budget proposals without alterations, then the Executive may have misconstrued the notion of separation of powers/checks and balances. We do not believe that was the bidding of the Presidency, however, we want the blame game consigned to the dustbin of history, and a proactive willpower engendered.
The Lagos-Calabar Rail project is not only germane to us in the South-South, but the country in general. Every additional day Mr.President witholds his assent from the bill, the hardship in the land , which is already despicable for Nigerians gets even more complicated. Without mincing words, the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi should refrain from ‘controversies’, as it portrays the Federal Executive Council in ‘ambiguous lights’. He should have amicably ironed the issue out with Senator Danjuma Goje-led Senate Committee on Appropriations before the senate passed the budget, instead of raising unnecessary alarm.
From the revelations in public domain, it is obvious that the disputed versions of the budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari was massively and morally flawed in a manner that radiates gross incompetence. We humbly implore the Presidency to come out clean with Nigerians and honestly admit it, we desire Leaders that takes responsibility for actions and inactions.
Certainly, as a vanguard and primary representatives of our people, we at the EDO FORUM OF PATRIOTS shall not vacate our role and watch our people groan and mourn as a result of negligent on the part of Government.The Presidency and the Natioanl Assembly must close ranks and bury the hatchet so that the Lagos-Calabar rail project can be reinstated and ”implemented” as conceived. Nigeria Must Not Fail or Falter!
Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo (Convener)
Engr. Patrick Biose (Ag. Secretary).
LAGOS-CALABAR RAIL PROJECT: Bury your hatchet in the overall interest of the Masses - EFP writes Buhari
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