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Senator Shehu Sani has called on China to apply caution in approving Nigeria’s loan applications.
He made the call on Wednesday while speaking at a round table organised by the Center for China Studies (CCS) with the theme: “20th National Congress of CPC: Outcomes and Significance for Nigeria and Africa”.
While commending China for driving development in Nigeria and Africa at large, he said China should only grant loans that will have direct impacts on the lives of Nigerians.
Sani said the loan burden on Nigeria is heavy, hence only loans that will drive development should be encouraged by China.
He said: “It is important that as much as your country wants to support to ensure that our projects are being executed, also be mindful that those in government are there for a period of time.
“Loans that are being sourced from your country should be the ones that are most important, the ones that will have a direct impact on the economy of our country.
“You can help our debt profile and you can do that through those who come to you. Always have the courage to tell them the truth.”
He also urged the Chinese Communist Party to invite leaders of Nigeria’s political parties to its next congress for them to learn how the Chinese are using the platform to drive development in their country.
“There are a lot of things we can learn from China because we are different politically.
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“The CPC meets every five years to evaluate the last five years and what will happen in the next five years. Nigerian politicians only meet every four years for elections.
“We don’t even know the model to copy. Our idea of governance is simply getting into power, inviting our friends and family and creating a semblance of the representation of the people and starting a government.”
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While commending the rise of China to become a superpower, he urged the Asian country to carry Nigeria along, adding that having strong allies would profit China.
On his part, the Director of the CCS, Mr Charles Onunaiju, said party congresses should focus on solving problems and not a jamboree.
“It’s not about candidates emerging, of course, such issues are resolved, but more importantly, congresses are a platform to think, to reflect on how far they have gone and then identify challenges and design the next course of action,” he said.
Onunaiju said at the last congress of the Communist party in China, the party announced it had pulled the people out of poverty and then began a new phase of common prosperity.
He charged Nigerian political parties to toe the path of the Chinese in asking critical questions during their congresses and proffering solutions to challenges.
