Constituents of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District have condemned in its entirety, the decision of the Senate to suspend the Senator representing them, Senator Abdul Ningi for three months what they call his sincere concern about irregularities in the 2024 national budget.
The constituents, under the aegis of Youth Coalition of Bauchi Central Senatorial District said rather than suspending Senator Ningi, the Red Chamber should instead investigate the irregularities he raised with a view to addressing them in the best interest of the country.
The coalition at a press conference led by its chairman, Nazeef Abdullahi Rio in Bauchi on Wednesday asked the Senate to rescind the suspension.
“We demand that the Senate should immediately reverse its decision of suspending our Senator. Recall him back to his seat so that he will continue representing our dear Constituency and the Country at large,” the group said.
In the event that the Senate refused to heed their demand within two weeks, Nazeef Rio warned that as constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, they will be left with no option than to take legal action to safeguard their constitutional rights.
“To our total dismay, instead of the Senate to commend Senator Ningi for his patriotic discovery and investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them in the best interest of the country, it ended up unjustifiably suspending him, thereby denying his rights as Senator and a Nigerian,” Rio said.
He argued that their rights of being represented at the Senate is being deprived with the suspension of their Senator, describing the exercise as the highest level of injustice meted on any Senator and any Senatorial district in the history of the country.
They added, “We are also shocked to hear some divisive and dangerous comments by some senators, especially Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele about our dear Senator and the Northern region which have the tendencies of causing hatred and disunity among various parts of the country.”
“At this time in the history of Nigeria when unity, peace and understanding are dearly needed. We call on the two senators to withdraw these unguided and ungodly statements and apologize to Senator Ningi and all northerners.
“As people of Bauchi Central, we declare our total support and solidarity to Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi. We equally strongly commend him for standing firm to represent our views and fight for our rights and that of the entire Nigerians.
“We also demand that the Senate should fully investigate all the alleged irregularities in the 2024 budget so that nobody will take Nigerians for granted and so that the image of the Senate will not be painted black in the eyes of Nigerians.
“If the Senate fails to meet our demands within two weeks, as constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, we will be left with no option than to take legal action so that our constitutional rights would be upheld,” coalition concluded.
