The dust is yet to settle over the N3.7 trillion budget padding claim by former Northern Senators Forum (NSF) Chairman Abdul Ningi against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
On Thursday, the Senate rejected the call for Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s resignation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)over the allegation, saying that it is morally reprehensible.
Also, the PDP Caucus in the Senate, which frowned at the party’s demand, said it was inappropriate to ask Akpabio to step down over the nebulous claim.
The Senate had suspended Ningi, a PDP senator from Bauchi Central, on Tuesday for three months for making the unsubstantiated claim.
Refuting the claim, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola, explained that what Ningi referred to as padding were provisions for statutory transfers to organs of government on direct line charge.
Following Ningi’sresignation as NSF chairman, senators from the region selected Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua as new Chairman.
Why Akpabio can’t resign, by Senate
Chiding the PDP for calling for Akpabio’s resignation, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, (APC – Ekiti South), said in a statement that the party was backing a spurious claim.
He said: “The PDP has elevated chicanery to statecraft and fatally failed in its sordid attempt to hoodwink the unsuspecting public, on the ineffectual but spurious allegations of budget padding.
“The party’s ludicrous call for the resignation of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President is unthinkable and shows the party as a massaging balm for falsehood and immoral legislative outbursts.”
Adaramodu said “Akpabio will not resign and has no intention to resign at any time because he has not committed any wrong doing to warrant a resignation”.
He added: “It is shocking that the PDP leadership could not comprehend what transpired at Tuesday’s plenary where the allegations were debated and Senator Abdul Ningi, who was given the ample opportunity to defend himself and prove the budget padding allegations was suspended after he failed to substantiate his claims in the full glare of the public.
“Contrary to the contention by the PDP that N3.7 trillion was discreetly inserted into the 2024 budget for alleged non-existent projects, and what transpired on the floor of the Chamber, it is open knowledge that no such absurdity is found in the budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is being implemented judiciously by the Federal government.
“Perhaps, the N3.7trn being mentioned in the PDP’s shocking statement exists only in the fickle minds of its purveyors and serves as a dubious version of the budget generated by PDP’s ‘unidentified political flying objects.”
Adaramodu said the Senate did not violate the constitution and its Standing Rules and Orders,
by not referring the matter to a relevant committee.
He explained that Senate referred the matter to the the Committee of the Whole in the spirit of transparency and fairness, adding that the method gave opportunity to the public to follow the proceedings, have a value judgement and know who was lying to the nation.
Adramodu said: “Contrary to the unspeakable grandstanding, Senator Ningi was never intimidated or harassed; neither was he gagged nor denied the privilege to exercise his right of reply as the senator was given ample opportunity to defend himself.
“But the whole world saw how he floundered, since he had no verifiable facts to substantiate his allegations and his futile efforts to defend lies.
“So, the decision to debate the matter in the Committee of the Whole was in sync with the resolve of the leadership of the 10th Senate under Senator Akpabio to stand for transparency, justice and fairness.
“The proceedings of the plenary were transmitted live by at least five popular national television stations, making all right thinking people to wonder the basis on which the PDP is questioning the process.
“The PDP expected the Senate to sweep the unfounded allegations under the carpet, but the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senate President Akpabio has zero tolerance for corruption, insipid lies and egregious falsehood such as the N3.7trn budget padding allegations and could not have conducted the investigation in the closet as suggested by the PDP.
“The Senate and the House of Representatives made the Appropriations Law, hence, the suspended senator disparaged and impugned on the social, political and legislative integrity of all.
“No amount of lies and fake allegations will distract the 10th Senate, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, from delivering good legislation and effective oversight for which Nigerians elected us for.”
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP – Benue South) could not be reached for the position of PDP lawmakers on the call by their party as calls placed to his phone were not answered as at the time of filing this report.
However, the Secretary of the Southern Senators’ Forum, Senator Mpigi Barinada (PDP – Rivers South East) described Akpabio as the best Senate President.
He said 80 per cent of Senators are behind Akpabio, stressing that there was no PDP decision that he should step down.
Barinada said: “As the most ranking senator of the PDP, the Senate President, is the best Senate President. We can’t ask him to step down.
“We have the full control. The Senate President is in charge. It is not a matter of political party. He is in charge of the Senate. Over 80 percent of senators are totally in support of him.
On PDP statement calling on Akpabio to resign, Barinada maintained: “There is no PDP decision of such.”
