Ningi’s voice cannot disappear from people’s hearts – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, described the Senator representing Bauchi North Senatorial District, Abdul Ninigi, as a bearer of true conscience.

In a post on his official X-name on Friday, the former vice president said Ningi’s voice is the voice of truth and cannot be banished from the hearts of the people.

The PDP chairman assured that Ningi and any politician with a true conscience would be welcome in his house.

He tweeted: “The voice of truth that Senator Ningi represents cannot be banished from the hearts of the people. Any bearer of true conscience is welcome in my house.”

As a reminder, Senator Ningi returned to the National Assembly on Tuesday, 75 days after he was suspended from the Senate.

Ningi’s suspension by the Senate on March 12, 2024, follows a controversial interview in which he alleged discrepancies in the 2024 budget, claiming that the National Assembly approved 25 trillion naira while the President signed 28.7 trillion naira.

In the interview with the BBC (Hausa Service), he claimed that the amount of 3.7 trillion naira in the 2024 budget could not be attributed to any location project.

However, when confronted before the Senate, he had difficulty defending the allegations, leading to his three-month suspension.

Following his suspension, Ningi lost his position as Chairman of the National Identity and Population Committee, which was taken over by Mustapha Musa (APC, Yobe East).

He was also replaced by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, who represented Katsina Central as Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum.

Last Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) asked senators in a motion during plenary to recall Ningi, who had already been suspended for 75 days. The request was later granted.

On Tuesday, Ningi arrived at the National Assembly complex together with Suleiman Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South) and others.
Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, Ningi told his colleagues it was time to move on.

“It is time to move on,” he said, just as the Senate President greeted him on behalf of the other senators with the words: “Bygones should be bygones.”

Citing Order 42 of the Senate’s Rules of Procedure, Ningi thanked his colleagues for the gesture and said he was in Turkey when he learned of the lifting of his suspension.

He said: “Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is with deep humility that I rise to thank the Senate, its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate leadership and the minority caucus for recalling me from suspension.

“I was in Turkey when I received the news last week and I am very grateful for the gesture. I am happy to be back home because the National Assembly is like a home to me after having served as parliamentary group leader and vice-parliamentary group leader in the Senate in the past and now being one of the most respected senators.

“I also thank my Governor Bala Mohammed, the people of Bauchi State and other Nigerians who have contacted me in one way or another during this period that has now ended.”

Responding on behalf of the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Ningi as a resourceful person needed in the 10th Senate and urged him to “let his greetings rest”.