BY Taiwo George
Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari did not discuss the issue of loan during his week-long trip to China.
There had been reports that Nigeria would borrow at least $2 billion from China to finance the 2016 budget.
But speaking when he appeared as a guest on O&M Sunday Show on AIT, Adesina said nothing of such happened, saying the trip ended up attracting investment worth $6 billion to the country.
“The issue of loan didn’t arise during the president’s trip to China, not even an emergency loan was discussed,” he said.
“The president went there and signed agreements that were in the interest of Nigeria. We should know that this president knows what is good for the country.”
On the letter which Ayo Fayose, Ekiti state governor, wrote to the Chinese government to stop the purported loan, Adesina said: “Every nation has a room for comic relief. If someone chooses to be so idle and be entertaining others, so be it.
“I am sure so many people laughed when they saw the letter.”
When asked if the president also reacted to Fayose’s letter with laughter, Adesina said: “The president is a serious-minded person who chooses not to be distracted.”
Responding to a question on whether Buhari will spend up to two weeks in the country “before taking off again”, Adesina said if the need arises to travel, the president will do so.
“The president is embarking on these trips in the interest of the country, so if what will prosper Nigeria abroad requires him to travel, he will,” he said.
“Let me share this with you. During the last Sallah celebration in September, the president travelled to Katsina in the morning, he took part in the activities and by 2pm, he was on his way to the United States to represent Nigeria at the UN General Assembly.
“Now, if not for the love for his country, will the president not have stayed back to celebrate with his family?”
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