By Osaigbovo Okungbowa, Senior Political Correspondent
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, resign immediately and permit an independent inquiry into the claims that an astounding N3.7 trillion was surreptitiously added to the 2024 budget for purportedly nonexistent projects.
The Party further demands that Senator Akpabio appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) right away in relation to the ongoing investigation into the purported theft of N108 billion from the people of Akwa Ibom State when he served as the state’s governor.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP observed that the Senate President ought to, in addition, address the alleged N86 billion contract scandal which took place at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) when he was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The PDP stated that it strongly opposed the action of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership which suspended Senator Abdul Ningi from the Senate without conducting a thorough investigation into the budget padding matter that he brought up.
Senator Ningi’s suspension seems to be a last-ditch effort to stifle inquiries and hide and distort the truth, the PDP alleges.
Furthermore, the PDP claims that its repeated warnings that high-ranking APC members of the National Assembly and a senior official in the Presidency have been using ministers and other government employees to embezzle funds from the national coffers are further supported by the APC Senate leadership’s frustration with the investigation.
“We question why, in accordance with the Senate’s current rules, the APC leadership in the Senate failed to refer the issue to the relevant Senate Standing Committee for an open investigation. What is the leadership of the APC Senate hiding from Nigerians and what is it frightened of?
“Even more ridiculous is the fact that the Senate President, rather than stepping down, presided over the case as a judge, a move that could severely damage the Senate’s reputation among the general public.
“This is particularly true given that the problems at hand primarily concern criminal violation of the public trust and alleged egregious misconduct, both of which are considered significant offences under our legal system.
“Nigerians can now understand why the APC leadership in the National Assembly, particularly in the Senate, still supports the unchecked theft of public funds, even those intended for the provision of palliative care for the nation’s impoverished and vulnerable inhabitants.
“The Senate’s perceived propensity to conceal political wrongdoing is already pitting the institution against Nigerians who are calling for clarification on the issue. Naturally, the highly denounced suspension of Senator Ningi does not address the claim of budget padding.
“The Senate’s presiding officer getting entangled in a web of alleged sleaze and breach of public trust is a great disgrace to the body, which is the nation’s highest legislating and probity institution.
“As a result, our party supports Senator Ningi for his bravery in pursuing accountability and probity in the political system.
“Nigerians currently expect the Senate President to come clean by resigning, granting permission for an independent probe into the allegations of budget padding, and clearing his name before the EFCC regarding claims that he stole N86 billion and N108 billion while serving as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, respectively,” the PDP further stated.
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