Alleged budget padding: Bauchi Gov. stands in solidarity with suspended Senator

By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has stated that he stands in solidarity with Abdul Ningi, a senator representing Bauchi Central under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Bala Mohammed while speaking during a meeting of the State Executive Council on Wednesday, said that he is in support of Senator Ningi.

He said, “We will continue as opposition to the Federal Government but that will be done in our own modesty and that is not to disparage our country. Yesterday, I was very sad that the Senate suspended one of our best in Bauchi for telling the truth, for standing to be the beacon of truth –Senator Abdul Ningi.

“Equally I don’t know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing. And that is the face of the opposition, especially if what he is saying is the truth. We will investigate that. I am not too quick to go to the media but, certainly, he has shown courage. He has shown he is from Bauchi and we have to be with him.”

Bala further described Ningi as one of the ‘best of us from Bauchi’ while calling for a proper investigation into the alleged N3 trillion budget padding in the approved 2023 fiscal document.

Abdul Ningi, a senator representing Bauchi Central under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following his suspension also resigned his position as the leader of the Northern Senators Forum on Tuesday after the suspension.