- Says Arabambi, others should be in prison
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Labour Party (LP) has applauded Senator Abdul Ningi, for speaking out against alleged N3 trillion padding in the 2024 budget, adding that LP senators in the 10th National Assembly agree with him.
Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, the LP National Youth Leader, revealed this on Friday during a youth-led solidarity visit to the Party Secretariat in Abuja.
Senator Ningi, representing Bauchi Central at the Senate, was suspended for three months by the Senate on Tuesday over his allegation that the 2024 budget was padded by over N3 trillion.
Addressing the youths, Ahanotu said: “Many Senators besides Labour Party Senators backed the suspended Lawmaker for his courage.
“Even members of the Labour Party are happy with that kind of presentation he made. And you know in the National Assembly, it is not about the person that spoke out.
“There are a lot of people that supported him, but he was the one that the floor was given before he spoke.
But I can assure you that many senators, including Labour Party senators, are solidly behind him because he is trying to unravel the ills of the National Assembly.
“I think as a national leader, personally as a person, I congratulate Senator Ningi for speaking out because we can not continue like this in Nigeria.
“Some days, some times, people need to speak out. And he’s speaking out, personally me, and on behalf of Nigerian youth, we are applauding, we are congratulating, we are thanking, and we urging more senators and more House of Representatives to speak out.
“We should not be talking about a bad budget. We should not be talking about doctoring the budget. Why are we doctoring the budget when our intention is to save the citizens of Nigeria, is to serve the citizens of Nigeria and to deliver good dividends to them? So why are we padding?
“I think the budget padding as a matter of fact is for personal enrichment.”
The youth leader further declared that the party’s embattled former National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, and others who troubled the LP ought to be in prison for their anti party activities.
According to him, “It has also been disturbing how someone like Arabambi who ordinarily ought to be behind bars can be calling for the arrest of our national leader, Peter Obi on the account of a purported LP’s $15m dollars and ObiDatti presidential campaign fund, which Peter Obi obviously almost funded by himself. This must stop.
“Also, it is highly pathetic how some media houses keep giving these dissidents their platforms to misinform the public on the premise that no one can tell them what to do.
“However, if we want to build an egalitarian society, every sector must be a check on another sector. The media check the politicians, civil servants, and private sectors, while the politicians also check the media.
“It is no longer news that on the 5th of March, 2024 (exactly a year that Apapa and co attempted to hijack our party leadership), the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has confirmed the legitimacy of the Abure led Labour Party, thereby putting to an end season of misinformation by some of our former members.
“Despite their fruitless venture, Arabambi and others have been going around speaking all manner of negative things against our party.
“Starting from his baseless allegations on our leader Peter Obi to fabricated allegations and threats to our National Chairman Barr Abure and other party leaders.
Ahanotu advised Arabambi and his team to toe the part of honour and stop inciting the public.
“I also advise them to learn a trade and keep themselves busy,” he added.