The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to 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.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP demanded that Senator Akpabio report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation into the alleged looting of N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State and the N86 billion alleged contract scam under his watch as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, respectively.
The PDP also criticized the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate for using diversionary press statements to suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged improper insertion of N3.7 trillion for non-existing projects in the 2024 budget.
The party alleged that the APC leadership in the Senate is jittery that an open and detailed investigation into the allegation will expose the perpetrators and how money was allegedly shared among APC lawmakers.
The statement further noted that the press statement from the APC leadership in the Senate confirmed the presence of an APC budget cabal in the Senate and criticized the insensitivity of the Senator Akpabio-led APC leadership, stating that they do not care about the welfare of the Nigerian people.
The PDP emphasized that no amount of threats, harassment, suspension of whistleblowers, or 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.
The PDP and Nigerians are not deterred by attacks from the APC leadership in the Senate, as they see it as a clear case of corruption fighting back in the face of public scrutiny.
The failure of the Akpabio-led APC leadership to allow for an investigation into the budget padding allegation was described as a huge smear on the image of the Senate and a threat to constitutional democracy if not immediately checked.
The PDP insisted that Senator Akpabio should step aside and allow for a credible investigation, as he cannot be a judge in this matter.
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