Sani says Senators torn between backing Akpabio or Ningi over allegation
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senators who maintain conspiratorial silence over the N3.7 budget inflation claim know the truth but are torn between supporting Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), says former Senator Shehu Sani.
On the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, Ningi claimed, among others, that projects worth N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget are not traceable.
Public reaction shows Nigerians generally believe Ningi over Akpabio and his cohorts scrambling to hush things up.
“It’s either your Senator is on the side of Akpabio or on the side of Ningi. The Senators who maintain silence are either afraid of the public or afraid of suspension,” Sani posted on his X (Twitter handle) in reaction to the scandal Ningi has dubbed a can of worms nobody can control.
Ningi’s televised confrontation with Akpabio
Ningi on live television confronted Akpabio before his suspension for three months, making other allegations.
He told a rattled Akpabio: “You know my salary, but I don’t know your salary. You know I have five legislative aides, just like every other Senator, but I don’t know the number of your aides.
“Some Senators collected N200 million [constituency allowance], I got N2 million, others got N1 million, is it fair?”
Akpabio dodges opportunity to provide transparency
Akpabio failed to take the opportunity to provide some details about Senate finances to show transparency.
Instead, he pressed for a fair hearing into the first part of Ningi’s allegation of N3.7 trillion budget padding.
After much deliberation – during which many All Progressive Congress (APC) Senators whipped up sentiments that their image was soiled by the allegation – the Chamber agreed to suspend Ningi for three months.
The period was slashed following a motion which amended the original suspension for 12 months floated by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele, who was highly emotionally charged, even suggested the budget padding allegation was part of the continuous campaign by those who opposed Akpabio’s election as Senate President in June 2023.
At the close of the session Akpabio and some other principal officers went to see President Bola Tinubu at the Villa to celebrate a plot well executed.
I have opened “a can of worms,” says Ningi
However, Ningi resurfaced on Arise TV on Wednesday and doubled down on his position.
He said: “I know this Parliament very well, I have come a long way. And that is why we are speaking. Let’s speak.
“Have they ever asked me since the beginning of this so-called crisis, where are your findings? Where are the documents? I’m not using my head to come up with figures.
“Nobody has talked to me about evidence. Nobody has suggested even listening to me. All they are trying to do is to ensure that ‘how do we make sure that Ningi is silenced or arrested so that he doesn’t do anything?’
“I have opened this can of worms. Neither they nor I will be able to control it.”
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