The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) strongly criticized the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi due to his claim of budget padding amounting to N3.7 trillion by the Senate.Â
The suspension occurred after Senator Ningi made the allegation in an interview. The ACF, a group of leaders from Northern Nigeria, argued that instead of suspending Senator Ningi, the Senate should have allowed an independent investigation into the matter.
The ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur-Baba, expressed concern that the process leading to Ningi’s suspension seemed rushed and focused more on the messenger than the message itself.
The ACF emphasized that the suspension affects the interests of many communities in the region.
Rather than hastily suspending Senator Ningi, the ACF advocated for a thorough investigation of the allegation by either a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.
The ACF’s statement highlighted its regret over the lack of representation for Bauchi Central in the Senate for the next three months due to Ningi’s suspension.
The ACF urged the Senate to handle criticisms of its operations with more care and consideration, emphasizing that open debates on public policy issues are crucial for strengthening democracy.
The ACF expressed solidarity with Senator Ningi and his supporters, encouraging them to seek constitutional means to address the situation.
The ACF called for a more thoughtful and sensitive approach from the Senate in dealing with criticism, emphasizing the importance of robust debates in advancing the democratic process.
