Former Senate Deputy Leader and Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, NSF, Senator Abdul Ningi, has said that the ongoing struggles being fought in the Country is ensuring that the interests of the masses must remain sacrosanct in Nigeria.
Ningi stated this on Monday during a solidarity visit by the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his Abuja residence.
He noted that: “The struggle that we are in for today is to make sure that whichever political party is in power and whoever is in the position of public office, the interests of the masses must remain sacrosanct and insulated from the whims of any one individual, no matter how highly placed.”
He expressed gratitude to Atiku and his delegation for the visit and for choosing to take a stand on the side of the masses.
Recall the Senate had on the 12th of March, 2024 suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over his allegation of budget padding.
Ningi was asked not to participate in all the activities of the 10th Senate.
The resolution of the Senate on was sequel to a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, All Progressives Congress, Ogun West on the allegations raised by Ningi of N3 trillion Budget Padding in the N28.7trillion 2024 Appropriation Act and that the budget passed by the National Assembly for 2024 fiscal year is N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion.
Earlier, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, APC, Ondo South in an additional prayer had asked the Senate to suspend Ningi for an initial period of twelve months and seconded by Senator Edeh Dafinone, APC, Delta Central.
An additional prayer was moved by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, APC, Cross River South that the suspension be reduced from twelve months to six months and his motion was seconded by Senator Barinada Mpigi, PDP, South East.
The additional prayer for suspension of a period of three months was raised by Senator Musa Garba Maidoki, PDP, Kebbi South and seconded by Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East.
Soon after the additional prayer was put to vote by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio at 3.19 pm, Senator Ningi immediately packed the heavy documents he came with and left the hallowed Chamber.
The Senate also resolved that if Senator Ningi writes to apologise during the period, he shall be recalled to resume his legislative activities.
