Stop Being Jittery, Order Open Investigation Into Allegation Of Budget Padding – PDP Tells Tinubu

The PDP has urged President Bola Tinubu to launch an inquiry into claims of a N3 trillion padding of the 2024 budget.

In a statement released on Friday by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party called on Tinubu and the APC to refrain from suppressing calls for an investigation with diversionary press statements.

Last week, Senator Abdul Ningi alleged the budget was padded by N3 trillion, sparking a heated debate in parliament.

Despite Ningi’s suspension, the PDP demanded Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s resignation, which was dismissed by the Senate spokesperson.

The PDP said “It is clear that it is jittery that an open and detailed investigation into the allegation will further expose the perpetrators and how money was allegedly shared among APC lawmakers,” the statement reads.

“It is highly provocative that at this time when Nigerians are passing through severe economic hardship, the APC leadership in the Senate is busy defending and frustrating investigation into allegation of massive manipulation and looting of resources meant for the wellbeing of the citizens.

“The Akpabio-led APC leadership in the Senate ought to know that no amount of threats, harassment, suspension of whistleblowers and attempts to blackmail the opposition through diversionary press statements and sponsored articles in a section of the media can suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged budget padding which is already in the public domain.

“More importantly, the failure by the Akpabio-led APC leadership to allow for investigation into the budget padding allegation constitutes a huge smear on the image of the Senate and destroys its rectitude and integrity to perform its Constitutional duty to investigate and oversight other public institutions; a situation that spells doom to our Constitutional democracy if not immediately checked.”

Unsatisfied, the PDP reiterated its call for a transparent investigation into the budget padding allegations on Friday, urging Akpabio to allow Ningi’s return for an open inquiry if there’s nothing to hide.

The PDP statement requested that Tinubu should “restore the integrity of the 2024 budget by immediately ordering an open investigation into the alleged insertion as well as a holistic review of the budget.”…[CONTINUE READING HERE]>>