The National Assembly’s decision to suspend Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central for three months has gotten tongues wagging.
In fact, Nigerians are outrightly rejecting the suspension. To many, such criminality must not be allowed to stand.
To others, if it stands, such irregularities will gain more confidence.
If you haven’t heared the gist, relax, we’ll tell you.
Ningi is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was suspended during Tuesday’s plenary after accusing the President Bola Tinubu government of padding the 2024 budget.
The Allegation
It was during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday that Ningi alleged that the National Assembly padded the 2024 budget with ₦3.7 trillion.
The Bauchi Central Senator also claimed that the 2024 budget passed is ₦25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is ₦28.7tn.
This development did not seat well with Nigerians.
It has sparked numerous reactions from Nigerians on and offline.
Some netizens have taken to social media to express their views regarding Ningi’s three-month suspension from all legislative duties.
Below are some reactions:
@SafeeyanM wrote: “Oh God, we miss the likes of senator @_dinomelaye and @ShehuSani in the senate, by now every table for don scatter.
“The Abdul Ningi’s claim holds water, and that’s why all APC senators are now attacking him and advocating for his suspension, unfortunately we don’t have opposition.“
@TheSerahIbrahim wrote: “WHERE ARE THE LABOUR PARTY SENATORS?
“Why was Senator Ningi’s suspension not Repudiated immediately?
“These criminality cannot hold. It cannot stand. You pad a budget with over 3 Trillion Naira and have the temerity to suspend the Senator who called you out on it.
“Such heartlessness and wickedness to pad a budget at this time, at a point where the country is suffering and people cannot even feed, you pad a budget for your selfish pockets.
“Thieves. Where are the senators? What are they all doing about it?
Akpabio must be Impeached.”
@KelvinAmata wrote: “Dear @NgLabour inclined obidients, hope you can see from the silence of Labour Party Senators over Senator Ningi’s suspension that the movement shouldn’t be tied to the apron strings of Labour Party.
Don’t make new monsters when you are battling with old, wily ones!“
@Good_citizins wrote: “Akpabio and Tinubu are setting up a dangerous precedence against our democracy.
I thought when accusations are made, the right thing is a proper investigation.
Why are they in haste to suspend a man because he voiced out the truth, this is very tyrannical indeed.”
More Reactions
@Ike_Chike wrote: “I don’t think Nigerians understand what a TRILLION is.
Even if it’s naira ..Let me break it down, If one spends a MILLION every day it will take 2700 years to exhaust a trillion.
Let that sink in. Country of cowards.”
@anuforo_ibe wrote: “Let him go to court and quash the nonsense suspension and spearhead Akpabio impeachment.”
@gift4dworld wrote: “If we stay quiet about issues like this, they become more confident. It also discourages others from speaking up because they fear we will stay docile.”
@Collinzcharlz wrote: “This is where EFCC comes in, but never… they’re doing their job in Anambra state, chasing students by 3 a.m.”
Also Read: Senate Summons Meeting Over 2024 Budget Padding Allegations
@SafeeyanM wrote: “We, the PDP members, should gather and know what to do with Senator Mai Doki.
He is a PDP member, and he was the one that moved the motion for Abdul Ningi’s suspension.
”The likes of Senator Mai Doki should not be given a chance to contest anything under our party. He is a disgrace.“
