The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate stated this during a visit to Ningi’s residential house on Monday.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has declared his support for the suspended Senator who represented Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate stated this during a visit to Ningi’s residential house on Monday.
SaharaReporters earlier reported how Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, indicated that the senate was considering recalling the suspended Senator, Abdul Ningi.
SaharaReporters had reported that Ningi was suspended for three months after the Senate debated his interview with the BBC where he alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7trillion.
Speaking at Ningi's apartment, Atiku stated that improving the integrity of government institutions would better serve Nigerians' interests and ensure development.
Atiku said, “The integrity of public institutions, especially such as the National Assembly, is a mirror to how the interests of the masses are preserved and protected in a democracy.”
He continued, “This agitation did not start just recently. It started during the military era, and it is essential that public institutions, especially the National Assembly, do not become a tool in the hands of oppressive governments.”
“By our visitation today, we have come to show solidarity with Senator Abdul Ningi and to also pass a message to those who see public office as an instrument to oppress the people, that Senator Ningi is not alone in this struggle."
“In fact, the entire people of Nigeria and friends of Nigeria in the international community are behind our drive to cleanse the country of oppressive nuances of people in positions of authority,” Atiku said.
Senator Ningi responded by thanking Atiku and his delegation for their visit and for choosing to stand with the masses.
“The struggle that we are in for today is to make sure that whichever political party is in power and whoever is in the position of public office, the interests of the masses must remain sacrosanct and insulated from the whims of any one individual, no matter how highly placed,” he said.