Ningi voters and Bauchi politicians warn Senate against suspending members

Members of the National Assembly have been told to refrain from suspending their colleagues on vague allegations.

The Vice Presidential Candidate of APGA Party in the 2023 general elections, who incidentally hails from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Comrade Abdullahi Koli, stated this in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH following the recall of Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi by the Senate.

Comrade Koli said he was proud that his Senator was back on the floor of the National Assembly, but stressed that the Assembly had no constitutional right to suspend Ningi at all, especially since the matter had not been thoroughly investigated.

Koli expressed his confidence in Senator Ningi’s representation and called on the National Assembly to refrain from such undemocratic decisions in the future, such as suspending its members without first investigating the truth of the allegations made against a member.

Koli explained: “If someone tries to defend themselves, they should be allowed to do so and should be given sufficient time to do so.

“Besides, there was no committee, nothing, and the Senate just decided to take action against him,” he lamented.

Comrade Koli stressed that Senator Ningi’s story should be a great lesson to the National Assembly and all Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He expressed concern that Ningi’s absence from the National Assembly had left a major gap in his contributions to the parliamentary debate.

The APGA chief stressed: “He has contributed a lot to the assembly, not only for the benefit of his zone and state, but also for the benefit of the nation and the next generation.”

“But that is what happened. It cannot be allowed to happen again because all constitutional provisions do not allow suspension of a member. But we are law-abiding citizens and that is why we did not take it the wrong way,” Koli added.

He reported that as voters of Senator Abdul Ahmad Ningi, they had simply asked the government to understand that the position of the Assembly was wrong.

A grassroots politician from Warji Local Government Area, which also falls within Bauchi Central Senatorial District and also participated in the survey as a respondent, Muhammad Mansir Sadiq, said they were all delighted with the recall of Senator Ningi.

He added that the people of his constituency and district were convinced that he fought for the common man and not for himself.

In the words of Mansir Sadiq: “We are aware that he fought for the people.

“He is known for his ability to speak truth to power and that is why we elected him.”

Similarly, Mas’ud Hassan, a resident of one of the communities within the constituency, stressed: “The world is witnessing the struggle that our representative is waging in the NASS.”

He stated: “At the height of Ningi’s suspension and upon his return to the Red Chamber, he was warmly received by his constituents during his visit to Bauchi State and his colleagues in the Chamber received him with equal warmth.”

Hassan emphasized that this was a proof of his dedication to the service.