The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly criticized the Senate’s decision to suspend former Northern Senators Forum Chairman, Sen Abdul Ningi, stating that the interests of the North are in jeopardy.
In a statement released by ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, it was emphasized that the Senate should have conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Sen. Ningi before resorting to suspension.
Sen. Ningi had raised concerns about the lack of specific project allocations in the 2024 budget amounting to N3.7 trillion. Despite the Senate’s denial of these claims, ACF stressed that the interests of many communities in Northern Nigeria are at risk.
Rather than hastily suspending Sen. Ningi, ACF called for a comprehensive investigation by a Senate committee to address the allegations of padding and the inclusion of constituency projects benefiting specific communities.
The failure to address these issues could have detrimental effects on both the Senate and the executive branch. ACF urged the Senate to exercise caution and handle criticisms with more diligence in order to uphold transparency and accountability.
By prioritizing a thorough investigation over immediate punitive measures, ACF aims to ensure that the concerns raised by Sen. Ningi are properly addressed and the integrity of the Senate is upheld.
