•Harps on institutional integrity of government
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, visited embattled Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, at his residence in Abuja, and assured him he was not alone in the struggle to battle state oppression.
Atiku, who made the remark during his solidarity, said the interest of Nigerians would be better served and development assured if premium was placed on strengthening the integrity of the institutions of government.
“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 Distinguished 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 Nigeria of oppressive nuances of people in positions of authority,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president had visited the opposition senator on account of his suspension by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over allegations of budgetary irregularities and fiscal inflation introduced into the 2024 Appropriation Act without mandatory approval by the National Assembly.
Atiku noted that, “The integrity of public institutions, especially such as the National Assembly, was a mirror to how the interests of the masses were preserved and protected in a democracy.”
He said further that the struggle that Senator Ningi finds himself in was a continuation of the long-drawn agitation (which Ningi had been a part of) to make sure that public institutions in Nigeria didn’t apply brute force to oppress and compromise the interests of the masses.
Responding, Ningi thanked Atiku and his delegation for the visit and for choosing to take a stand on the side of 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.”
