Atiku Support Organisation, a group supporting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has requested President Bola Tinubu to look into the actions of the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The request was related to the N3.7tn budget padding controversy which was brought up by the now-suspended Senator Abdul Ningi.
The group, in a statement on Thursday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Victor Moses, also urged that Ningi’s suspension be reversed, stating that “Reporting wrongdoing is not a crime.”
The statement explained, “The matter of the N3.7tn, which was covertly included in the budget by Sen. Akpabio and his associates without any justification is embarrassing and disgraceful. It only clarifies Akpabio’s intentions in the senate.
“Nigeria is currently dealing with its biggest and most serious economic crisis to date. With over 46 per cent poverty rate, the fourth highest inflation rate globally, a 28.3 hunger index, and a burdensome cost of living, Nigeria should expect every penny to be used for the welfare of the people and not for a few greedy individuals in the Senate to divide among themselves.
“The N3.7tn budget smuggling by the Senate is a major crime and should, without a doubt, be treated as a theft against the Nigerian state.”
The group emphasized that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should fulfill its responsibilities and pursue those implicated in the aforementioned budget padding accusations.
“The President should promptly instruct the EFCC to commence an inquiry into the allegations of N3.7tn budget padding by GodsWill Akpabio-led Senate and penalize the offender,” the statement added.
Regarding Ningi’s suspension, the group added, “We are also urging the Akpabio-led Senate to immediately revoke the suspension against Senator Abdul Ningi and subject themselves to the law.
“Reporting wrongdoing is not a crime, and no one should be punished for revealing uncomfortable truths.”
Forty-eight hours after the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) as Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, resignation Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC Katsina Central), emerged as the new Chairman. The All Progressive Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and some other political parties on Monday, called for a
thorough investigation into the allegation made by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), that N3.7tn was padded in the 2024 budget. Atiku Support Organisation, a group supporting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has requested President Bola Tinubu to investigate the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. The request was connected to the N3.7tn budget padding controversy which was raised by the now-suspended Senator Abdul Ningi. […]
