Following allegations of insertions of suspicious projects to the tune of over N3 trillion in the 2024 budget by the Senate, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has thrown its weight behind the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The party said calls for Akpabio to resign were misplaced.
Also, APC in a statement from its publicity directorate on
Friday evening described the PDP as a meddlesome interloper.
It said PDP’s call for Akpabio to step aside over the matter
of an unsubstantiated allegation of budget padding by the Senate is “nothing
short of crass buffoonery”.
The statement, signed by Felix Morka, noted that the PDP has
showed itself as an entity bereft of focus and purpose, and like a political
scavenger, always quick to feast on sham without thought and consideration for
facts and institutional due process.
Part of the statement reads; “It is rather ridiculous that
the PDP that is unable to govern itself would seek to dictate to the Senate how
it should conduct its proceedings and handle internal matters of discipline of
its members.
Exactly how is the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi without
first referring the matter to a Senate standing committee proof of a cover up?
“How is a committee of the full Senate conducting an inquiry
in the matter, in full public view on national television, less independent and
transparent or in violation of the Senate’s standing rules or any other laws of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
“Contrary to the PDP’s twisted argument, the Senate neither
violated its standing rules and orders nor the Constitution by not referring the
matter to a relevant committee.
“Rather, placing the matter before the committee of the
whole, under public scrutiny, underscored the premium the Senate placed on
transparency in the conduct of its proceedings. It was clear for all to see
that the author of the allegation was unable to offer any substantiation or
justification.
“It is eerily comical
that the PDP, a party with a sordid legacy of monumental corruption would
suggest that the President of the Senate should turn himself to anti-graft
agencies for investigation.
“This is the entity that turned graft and corruption to
statecraft. The same entity that cannot account for funds raised for the
building of its own national headquarters, making such a ridiculous call. The
PDP should lead by example and heed its own call.
“The legislative authority of the Senate includes the
authority to make its own rules and adopt its own procedures for discharging
its constitutional mandate.
“That extends to modifying its rules and standing orders in
accordance with its rules and procedures, and in observance of all applicable
legal and constitutional standards. It also has the authority to discipline its
members in accordance with its institutional and constitutional due process.
“The President of the Senate has done nothing wrong to
warrant him stepping aside on account of this or any other disclosed matter.
“The PDP should quit being a meddlesome interloper, expend
its lean energy on revamping its decrepit institution, and leave the Senate to
carry on its important role of deepening our democracy and stabilizing our dear
nation,” APC added.
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