- Call for thorough investigations of budget padding allegations
By Yemi Monday, Bauchi
Constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District of Bauchi State comprising, Darazo, Misau, Ganjuwa, Dambam, Ningi and Zaki Local Government Areas (LGAs) have threatened to drag the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the entire Senate to Court if after two weeks, the three-months suspension placed on Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was not lifted.
The Nigerian Senate passed a motion suspending Senator Ningi over allegations of padding of the 2024 budget.
The Constituents, represented by a Coalition of Youth groups led by its Chairman, Nazeef Abdullahi Rio addressed members of the Correspondents Chapel of the NUJ on Thursday in reaction to the development.
The Constituents stated that it became imperative for them as stakeholders of Bauchi Central Senatorial District to address the Press in order to express their position on the unfortunate events unfolding at the Nigeria’s Senate.
According to the group: “As constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, we condemn in its entirety, the decision of the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio to suspend the Senator representing us, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi for his sincere concern about irregularities in the 2024 budget which if left unchecked will have negative consequences on our dear Constituency, our State and the country in general.”
“To our total dismay, instead of the Senate to commend Senator Ningi for his patriotic discovery and investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them for the best interest of the Country, it ended up unjustifiably suspending him thereby denying his rights as Senator and Nigerians and our rights of being represented at the Senate. This is the highest level of injustice meted on any Senator and any Senatorial District in the History of our dear Country,” The group added.
“We are also shocked to hear some divisive and dangerous comments by some Senators, especially Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele about our dear Senator and the Northern region, which have the tendencies of causing hatred and disunity among various parts of the country at this time in the history of Nigeria when unity, peace and understanding are dearly needed. We call on them to withdraw these unguided and ungodly statements and apologize to Senator Ningi and all Northerners.”
“As people of Bauchi Central, we declare our total support and solidarity to Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi. We equally strongly commend him for standing firm to represent our views and fight for our rights and that of the entire Nigerians.”
Furthermore, it added: “We demand that the Senate should immediately reverse its decision of suspending our Senator. Recall him back to his seat so that he will continue representing our dear Constituency and the Country at large.”
“We also demand that the Senate should fully investigate all the alleged irregularities in the 2024 budget so that nobody will take Nigerians for granted and so that the image of the Senate will not be painted black in the eyes of Nigerians.
“If the Senate fails to meet our demands within two weeks, as constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, we will be left with no option than to take legal action so that our constitutional rights would be upheld.”