Redaction Africa Links 24 with Legit.ng
Published on 2024-03-24 16:12:35
APC chieftain Francis Okoye has come out in support of the suspension of Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, in response to the allegations of N3.7 trillion budget padding. Okoye is in favor of the current leadership of the Senate under Godswill Akpabio and has denounced calls for Akpabio to resign or be sacked. In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, Okoye emphasized that Akpabio should not be expected to step down as Senate President as he has not committed any wrongdoing.
The controversy began when Senator Ningi alleged that the federal government had two versions of the 2024 budget and that projects worth N3.7 trillion were untraceable. As a result, the Senate suspended Ningi, leading to calls from the PDP for Akpabio’s resignation to allow for an impartial investigation into the budget padding claims.
Okoye, speaking on behalf of the APC South-East Coalition, believes that Ningi had personal motives against the Senate leadership and failed to provide evidence to support his allegations. He supported Ningi’s suspension as a necessary measure to deter future baseless accusations without evidence.
Regarding budget padding, Okoye acknowledged that lawmakers have the authority to adjust budget allocations, though this may be perceived as padding. He explained that the National Assembly can modify budget proposals submitted by the Presidency, hence accusations of padding may not always be accurate.
In response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s comments on budget padding and the trustworthiness of his administration for a second term, Okoye emphasized the current focus should be on governance rather than election campaigns. He believes it is too early to discuss re-election since Tinubu’s government is relatively new and still working to address past misgovernance.
Senator Ningi resigned as chairman of the northern senators’ forum amidst the fallout from his budget padding allegations. His remarks have ignited a debate over the implementation of the 2024 budget and highlighted the complexities of budgetary processes in Nigeria.
Overall, Okoye’s stance aligns with the Senate’s decision to suspend Ningi and rejects calls for Akpabio’s resignation. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based claims and underscores the importance of focusing on governance priorities instead of premature election campaigning. The controversy surrounding budget padding underscores the challenges and complexities of budgetary processes in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Read the original article on Legit.ng
