Opeyemi Bamidele
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Majority Leader has alleged that some lawmakers are doing everything possible to impeach the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, before July 2024.
Contributing to a debate on the claim made by Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion, Bamidele claimed that the allegation made by Ningi is “tantamount” to a “civilian coup” against Akpabio.
He also claimed that the Bauchi senator wanted to use the platform of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) to execute the “civilian coup”. The majority leader also noted that the senate was very peaceful when the senate president came from the northern part of the country.
Bamidele said;
“I stand to say that, what my big brother, distinguished senator Abdul Ningi, who I respect so well, planned to do was tantamount to a civilian coup, which has failed.
“In doing this, he wanted to use the platform of the northern senator's forum. God bless all those who have dissociated themselves from it.
“A few people who felt they will not give you (Akpabio) more than one year as chair of the senate, want to do everything possible before July 13 to remove you.
“That is why it is always about Akpabio. Never about the Senate, House of Representatives, and DG budget office. All of us passed this budget. Never about the president who signed the budget, it is always about Akpabio.”
Senator Ningi was subsequently suspended for three months over the claim he made.