The Arewa Consultative Forum, or ACF, has denounced the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for disclosing that the Senate allegedly padded the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion.
According to the DAILY POST, Senator Ningi made the accusation that resulted to his three-month suspension in a previous interview, which the Senate deemed to be baseless.
However, ACF pointed out on Saturday that the Red Chamber ought to have permitted an impartial inquiry into the situation instead of suspending the senator who represents Bauchi North.
In a statement made in Kaduna, ACF National Publicity Secretary Prof. Tukur-Baba noted that the steps that led to Ningi’s suspension seemed hurried and akin to “looking more on the messenger than his message.”
The interests of numerous villages in the area are at risk due to Ningi’s suspension. Ningi was the leader of the Northern Senators Forum.
It stated that it favored a comprehensive investigation of the charge by a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate, rather than accepting a hasty suspension of Ningi.
Sen. Abdul Ningi of Nigeria was suspended from the Red Chamber for three months as a result of a series of rather dramatic events that ACF observed with great interest in the statement titled “ACF Regrets Suspension of Senator Ningi from 10th Senate, Calls for More Open Debates on Issues.”
“ACF recognizes the 10th Senate’s constitutional right to choose how it functions or carries out its affairs,” it stated.
ACF notes in the statement that overall, the process seemed hurried and that it does not intend to debate with the Senate.
“ACF reports that the 10th Senate has now refuted the charge, citing its lack of authenticity. Nonetheless, numerous Northern Nigerian communities’ interests are under jeopardy.
“ACF prefers a thorough investigation of the allegation by some statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate,” the statement read. “Rather than the route of a rushed suspension of Senator Ningi.”
The statement expresses concern that Senator Ningi and his supporters will not have representation in the 10th Senate for the next three months and pledges support for them in using all constitutional tools at their disposal to provide a suitable response.
