A member of the Sixth Senate, Ayo Arise, has dismissed criticisms against President Muhammadu Buhari‘s foreign trips.
He said such trips are needed to lift the nation’s economy from the woods.
Addressing a briefing in Oye-Ekiti yesterday, Arise, who was Chairman, Committee on Privatisation from 2007 – 2011, said time was no longer on the President’s side to deliver on his promises to make life easier for Nigerians.
Arise, who recently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Buhari’s foreign tours have been benefitting the country in the areas of economy, defence, diplomacy and direct foreign investment.
His words: “How do you expect the President to sit at home and expect foreign investment?
“How do you expect him sit at home and not shop for money to run the economy and solicit for the recovery of stolen funds.
“You remember his first trip to the US and its benefits. Everywhere he goes, there is something positive about it and each trip is usually a product of invitations.”
He called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to resolve their differences to allow for the implementation of the budget.
The former lawmaker urged National Assembly members to accept the proposal for the construction of the Calabar-Lagos rail line because of its importance to the economy and its potential to generate jobs .