By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Following the allegations of Budget padding and subsequent suspension of
Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi representing Bauchi Central, northern group under the auspices of Arewa Defence League has lampooned the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Northern senators for working against the interest of the poor, stressing that President Tinubu must rise to the challenge.
Speaking in Kaduna during a Press Conference Murtala Abubakar, President Arewa Defense League said,
“Budget padding is not new to our system. Infact, the phrase became added to Nigerian political lexicon under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari when the Senate inserted certain things which the president then said were not implementable. Late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua also raised same eyebrows about 2018 budget and almost threatened not sign it.
So, Senator Ningi did nothing new and wrong. Few days after his suspension which was speedily carried with alot of parliamentary illogic, BudgiT came out with indepth fact and figures, justifying Senator Ningi’s claim”
Arewa Defense League maintained that BudgiT did not only vindicated Senator Ningi, but gave a breakdown of finances over 3 trillion naira in the passed and signed 2024 budget that have no outlined projects or programmes.”
Abubakar affirmed that the silence of the Northern Senators which seems to be a consent; a body chaired by Senator Ningi is also unnerving.
“The revelation by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe that some ranking Senators got 500 million naira each in the budget is a pointer.
The revelations thus far, that Akpabio got more than 21 billion Naira inserted into the budget as constituency project for himself alone is also a revealing pointer that Senator Ningi must have ruffled bad feathers. With all the woes of insecurity, banditry, kidnapping for ransom among several set backs that the Northern Nigeria experiences today, the Northern Senators Forum should have been more concerned about a lopsided budget and use their number to influence more for the region.” They stressed
“The recent killings of our gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Army in Delta State by armed criminal group readily comes to mind. While patriotic Nigerians condemned the barbaric act of the murderous group, Senator Godswill Akpabio was quick to defend the group, asserting that those who carry out the heinous crime are not from the Niger Delta but foreigners. Yet, one of the perpetrators confessed on a viral video to the act.
‘This readily reminds one of the October 1st Eagle Square bombing. The then administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was quick to defend the Niger Delta militants; Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta MEND who were running amock. But Henry Orka came out to claim responsibility. Until South African Government picked him up and prosecuted him. The bloodletting continue unabated till date, especially in Northern Nigeria.
‘Is Akpabio acting a script to the detriment of certain parts of Nigeria? If yes, whose script is he acting? Should we all fold our arms as Ningi is being used as guinea pig for certain plans against the majority of Nigerians?
Akpabio’ antecedents readily comes to mind here. As the Minister of Niger Delta Ministry, the forensic investigation carried out revealed so much rot under him. Recalled how the then Acting Managing Director of NDDC Mrs Joy Nunien exposed Akpabio’s hatred for the head of Legal unit; one Barrister Kaltungo simply because he is a northerner
‘While the suspension of Ningi may be viewed as internal issues of the National Assembly, the pronouncement of senators like Opeyemi Bamidele who tried to ethno-regionalise the issue by setting the North against the south, and Jimoh Ibrahim, a first time Senator leaves alot to be desired as worrisome and myopic as they sounded.” Abubakar maintained.
