Not minding the lapses in the 2016 budget proposal submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly, a former member of the Senate, Mr Ayo Arise has pleaded with the federal lawmakers to accept the proposal for the construction of Calabar-Lagos rail-line in the budget.
Arise, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization between 2007 and 2011 , said rejecting such a strategic project that could help to provide employment and further strengthen the economy, could be interpreted to mean attempt to impose more sufferings on Nigerians.
The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress added that the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti state will be won by his party, saying the party is working assiduously to reunite to be able to form a formidable force against Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Speaking in his Oye Ekiti countryhome on Wednesday, Arise pleaded with the National Assembly to overlook the mistakes in the contents of the budget and think more about the interest of Nigerians.
“The issue of whether the Calabar-Lagos and Lagos –Kano rail lines were contained in the original budget is not the issue, but what Nigerians wanted. The projects will provide employment and help to strengthen the economy, aside the fact that they are important to the President.
“So, the executive and the legislative arms must find a middle coursefor the settlement of the crisis. The National Assembly has the powers to move money from one aspect of a budgetary proposal to another, but they need to be aware of the fact that suchmay not be the priority of the executive.
“That is why they have to sit down and talk. The issue is not beyond resolution, if truly they were voted to defend the well-being of the commoners.”
Arise subscribed to the proposition by the Senate that the logjam could be resolved through the presentation of a supplementary budget by President Buhari, saying this could help in resolving the bedlam if there is sincerity of purpose.
“During my time at the Senate, a scenario like this happened under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. But we sat down and asked Mr President to send a supplementary budget to capture areas left out and that settled the matter. This could be a way out but it has to be by sincerity.”
On the trial of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Arise said the option of resignation being mooted could help , if it will prevent the number one Senator from going to jail.
Arise exuded confidence that his party , APC , would win the 2018 poll in Ekiti, if it is committed to the unification of all groups and stop celebrating sectionalism , rather than respecting party supremacy.
“All the leaders in the party, particularly the three major ones , Niyi Adebayo, Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni have their cult-like supporters, so there is tendency that members may have divided loyalty. But the party has set up a unity committee to prevent such.
“Part of the terms of reference of the committee is to oversee the party and ensure that every member sees the party as being supreme. If we can ensure this, APC will take over Ekiti in 2018,” he said.
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