•Akpabio
Dr. Sam Amadi, a former governorship aspirant in Imo State and director of Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, has condemned the suspension clamped on Senator Abdul Ningi who represents Bauchi Central at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.
Recall that Ningi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal lawmaker, last week raised the alarm that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the presidency padded the budget currently implemented against the budget passed by the chamber, reports Daily Independent.
The allegation had generated public outrage.
The Bauchi senator, however, maintained his position on Monday that N3.7 trillion could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Amadi said it was wrong to suspend the lawmaker, saying it was not good for the image of the upper legislative chamber, explaining that mere clarification as done by Senator Olamilekan would have been enough.
Amadi said: “Suspending Ningi was wrong and against any law. I think they should have ended by clarifying the accusation. This is how it is done over the world and in the US senate.
“They said the alleged padding were appropriations that were not captured and that should have been it or at worst they remove Ningi from one committee or the other.
“There was no way he should have been suspended because you deny his constituents representation. You can discipline but not when a member raises an opinion.
“The act looks like an overdrive and a means to shut him down and that is also not good for the image of the senate.
“What senate needs now is to shore up its credibility which the present action cannot guarantee.
“There are lots of issues already and I don’t think suspending Ningi at this time is the right thing to do for the interest of the National Assembly and the nation generally.
“I want to see a National Assembly that is dwell on following procedures instead of an Assembly that goes about suspending one of its members for perhaps spilling the beans and all that,” he said.
