Constituents of the Bauchi Central Senatorial district in the state have condemned the Senate’s decision to suspend their senator, Abdul Ningi, for three months for expressing sincere concern about irregularities in the 2024 national budget.
The constituents, under the umbrella of the Youth Coalition of Bauchi Central Senatorial district, said that they should instead investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them in the best interest of the country.
The coalition at a press conference held by its chairman, Nazeef Abdullahi Rio in Bauchi, said, “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.”
Nazeef Rio warned that if the Senate fails to meet their demands within two weeks, as constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, they will be left with no option than to take legal action so that their constitutional rights would be upheld.
“To our total dismay, instead of the Senate to commend Senator Ningi for his patriotic discovery investigate the irregularities with a view to addressing them for the best interest of the Country, it ended up unjustifiably suspending him thereby denying his rights as Senator and a Nigerian.”
Rio argued that their rights of being represented at the Senate is being deprived, saying “This is the highest level of injustice meted on any Senator and any Senatorial district in the history of our dear 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,” the coalition said.
