From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Northern group, Arewa Movement for Good Governance (AM2G), has expressed concern over the recent suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi from the National Assembly, which led to his resignation as the chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum, saying the country’s democracy is losing its meaning at the detriment of the people.
Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central was suspended for three months over allegations of N3.7 trillion padding of the 2024 Budget by the executive arm of the government.
The Convener of the group and a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje said on Thursday while addressing a press conference that, “it was unfair for an “issue of this magnitude to be swept under the carpet without a thorough investigation to prove beyond doubts to the Nigerian public, who ostensibly elected these Senators to represent them, that the Senators are not culpable”.
To this end, Bugaje noted that the nation’s democracy is not delivering
development with the kind of National Assembly that is in place without giving due regard to constitutional provisions.
He added that there were also allegations that the lawmakers were given a certain amount in dollars to take their eyes off the due process of budget preparation and presentation.
“National Assembly is an accomplice in the mass looting of the
public treasury that has today become the budget process. Meanwhile, Nigerians are impoverished and marginalized; they struggle to survive with no hope for improvement.
“Now we can see why we spent billions of dollars in electricity without a substantial increase in megawatts of electricity and the culprits are going scot free; now we can see why our economy has been shrinking and ending up in shambles; now we can see why our youth cannot find jobs; now we can see why our country is on this dangerous trajectory, heading for the rocks; now we can see why this country under this rogue politics has no future at all”.
Dr. Bugaje further expressed worry that the political trend in the country raised serious concerns about a culpable National Assembly and a failing Nigerian state, adding that his group was compelled to address the lingering crisis facing the nation.
He urged Nigerians to follow suit by raising their voices and demand accountability from their leaders, pointing out that the decision to suspend Ningi is a total violation of his fundamental rights.
“It is very evident that our democracy is in crisis. Our democracy is not delivering development and with the kind of National Assembly that we have today, and we can see why. Our democracy is impoverishing the citizens, more citizens are daily falling below the poverty line and many are trapped into multi-dimensional poverty. Our democracy is not creating hope on the horizon for the teaming youth who cannot even go to school and those that managed to go through school cannot find jobs. Our democracy is losing its meaning, losing its value and losing its luster. Our democracy is stripping us of our dignity, of our honor and of our humanity. There is urgent need to restore our confidence in democracy before we lose our senses. Once we get to the point where we lose our senses that will be the end of anything sensible.
“What to do? Halting and freezing all funds that are suspect until a thorough investigation is done.Instituting independent investigation including civil society like CISLAC and BUDGETit.
“Leaders of civil society, especially those who were in the trenches in the late 90’s, fighting to restore democracy, must come forward to give a policy direction and build an elite consensus on the future of this great country.
“We must all focus on the leadership recruitment process, we must develop criteria for suitability of political offices. To be sure, the criteria in the constitution is only a criteria for eligibility. We must not confuse eligibility with suitability. Character, competence and courage of conviction must be part of these criteria.
“The constitution, to which both the executive and legislative arms have sworn to uphold, guarantees the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens. This failure is compounded by attempts to stifle public debate. The recent silencing of senators through microphone control exposes a leadership seemingly complicit in the very issues it should be addressing, such as the alleged budget padding, a blatant act of legislative looting.
“Suspension of Senator Ningi – this appears to be a panic measure that violates the principles or representation in a democracy. It is clearly an evasive move to distract attention from the issues raised. It is also unfair for an issue of this magnitude to be swept under the carpet without a thorough investigation to prove beyond doubts to the Nigerian public, who ostensibly elected these Senators to represent them, that the Senators are not culpable. From the video clips shown by the media covering the NASS, we found it intriguing that after the suspension and as Senator Ningi was walking out of the chamber with the heap of evidence in his hands, no senator appeared to show any compunction.
“This suggests a conspiracy of silence in the supposedly hallowed chamber, or is it a chamber of shame. It apparently did not occur to the Senate that they were judges in their cause or worse still, they were the prosecutors and the jury at the same time.
“We are forced to ask the question, Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, what is distinguishing in this behaviour? Where is your conscience? What do you want us to think of you?Padding of 2024 budget – today there are mountains of evidence that massive, some would say outrageous, padding has taken place in the 2024 budget. Even as, Senator Ningi was not allowed to present his evidence, as he was shouted down and his mic was being switched of now and then, in what little he was able to expose, there were enough malfeasance and fleecing to be worried about”. Bugaje stated.