Budget Padding: Nigeria’s Democracy In Serious Crisis – Bugaje

The convener, Arewa Movement for Good Governance, Dr Usman Bugaje has said that the Senate owes Nigerians explanation on the alleged budget padding, saying Nigeria’s democracy is in a serious crisis.

While addressing a press conference in Kaduna titled, “Culpable National Assembly, A Failing Nigerian State And A Democracy In Crisis: Whither Nigeria?” Bugaje said that many of the figures in the budget were opaque and this opacity would appear to be deliberate to hide the fleecing that is buried in the budget.

He noted that the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, his resignation from the Northern Senators Forum, and the removal of Senator Kawu Sumaila from its PRO position expose a troubling trend.

“The silence of the Northern Senators Forum as a body appears to suggest that they have no courage to show up for the fight against the alleged iniquity and transgressions. We thought the issues raised by Senator Ningi are issues which affect their constituencies, the people who ostensibly sent them there to represent and protect their interest. Are they betraying the trust of their constituencies?

“Are they suggesting that they are an accomplice in the alleged crime that is unfolding in the Senate? Are they willing tools of the senate president or his boss the president in the alleged subversion of the interest of their constituencies? How did they come about their new leadership? Could the suspicion that they were appointed by the executive be true? Will they have the courage to come clean on these and several other roles they seem to be playing? The Senate has questions to answer.

“These developments raise serious concerns about a culpable National Assembly and a failing Nigerian state, leaving many to wonder: Whither Nigeria? These events unfold against the backdrop of a Nigerian state that has demonstrably failed,” he stated.