Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu has faulted demand for the resignation of President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio over the alleged padding of the N28.7 trillion 2024 Budget to the tune of N3.7trn by the suspended Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi.
National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Debo Ologunagba, said in a statement on Wednesday said Senator Akpabio should vacate the exalted seat of Senate President.
Adaramodu, in his reaction, made available to journalists on Thursday declared that “The PDP has elevated chicanery to statecraft and fatally failed in their sordid attempt to hoodwink the unsuspecting public, on the ineffectual but spurious allegations of budget padding. The party’s ludicrous call for the resignation of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President is unthinkable and shows the party as a massaging balm for falsehood and immoral Legislative outbursts. He stated that Akpabio will not resign and has no intention to resign at any time because he has not committed any wrong doing to warrant a
resignation”.
The Senate spokesman recalled that the allegation raised by Senator Ningi was raised on the floor of the Senate, thoroughly debated before he was slammed three month suspension by his colleagues.
He said “Contrary to the contention by the PDP that N3.7 trillion was discreetly inserted into the 2024 budget for alleged non-existent projects, and what transpired on the floor of the Chamber, it is open knowledge that no such absurdity is found in the budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is being implemented judiciously by the Federal government. Perhaps, the N3.7trn being mentioned in the PDP’s shocking statement exists only in the fickle minds of its purveyors and serves as a dubious version of the budget generated by PDP’s ‘Unidentified political flying objects’.
Senator Adaramodu said the Senate did not in any way violate the constitution or its standing Rules and Orders, in not referring the matter to a relevant committee but the decision to take the issue in the Committee of the Whole was for transparency and fairness; and to afford the public the opportunity to follow the proceedings and have a value judgement as to who was lying to the nation. Albeit, the constitutional provision of the Senate to vary and determine its internal rules, as deemed fit.
According to him, “Contrary to the unspeakable grandstanding, Senator Ningi was never intimidated nor harassed, neither was he gagged nor denied the privilege to exercise his right of reply as the senator was given ample opportunity to defend himself. But the whole world saw how he floundered, since he had no verifiable facts to substantiate his allegations and his futile efforts to defend lies.
“So, the decision to debate the matter in the Committee of the Whole was in sync with the resolve of the leadership of the 10th Senate under Senator Akpabio to stand for transparency, justice and fairness.
“The proceedings of the plenary were transmitted live by at least five popular national television stations, making all right thinking people to wonder the basis on which the PDP is questioning the process. The PDP expected the Senate to sweep the unfounded allegations under the carpet but the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senate President Akpabio has zero tolerance for corruption, insipid lies and egregious falsehood such as the N3.7trn budget padding allegations and could not have conducted the investigation in the closet as suggested by the PDP”
While he noted that the 2024 Appropriation Act was the outcome of joint efforts of both chambers of Parliament, Adaramodu wondered why the President of the Senate was being singled out for prosecution.
“No amount of lies and fake allegations will distract the 10th Senate, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, from delivering good legislation and effective oversight for which Nigerians elected us for” Adaramodu concluded.
