Nigerians blast Akpabio, Senate over Ningi’s suspension

The suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, a lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, by the Senate has stirred the ire of Nigerians. 

Following allegations of padding the 2024 budget leveled against the executive arm of government by  Ningi the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio wielded the big axe by suspending the lawmaker from performing his legislative activities.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while conducting a voice vote on the suspension of Ningi, described the actions of Ningi as a ‘grievous’ offense.

Ningi, speaking under the aegis of the Northern Senators’ Forum in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, stated that the Tinubu-led administration was implementing a different budget from the N25 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly.

Describing the Senate as a “house of commotion,” Akhaya Agboke, in his reaction to the suspension of the senator, argues that “suspending Senator Ningi is unacceptable since the Senate couldn’t debunk his claims.

“There is a lot underneath his claims. Where is the integrity of the Senate Chamber? Rubber Stamp Senate House of Commotion.”

In Jejeniwa Akintunde’s reaction, he questioned the grounds for the suspension of the senator.

“On what ground? Is the allegation untrue? If the Senate, as a lawmaking body, is sure of its stand on this matter, the proper action to take is to sue Senator Ningi in the appropriate court of law. Nigerians want a clean and clear issue, not a self-evasive strategy,” Akintunde argues.

For Okpanachi Udale, he noted that “the man made some weighty allegations,” but “no investigations, no comments on what he alleged. He was suspended, meaning what he said is pure truth; this country has been captured by criminals, and Nigerians cannot afford to always keep quiet.”

While Matthew Onyeani argues that “they suspended him for revealing the truth,” Oyo Phil described the Akpabio-led senate as “those in power.”