The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has hit hard on the Senator representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly, Opeyemi Bamidele, for fingering North over alleged plot to frustrate Godswill Akpabio as Senate President.
CNG, in a statement signed by its national coordinator,
Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, on Thursday, knocked Bamidele for his anti-North posturing.
“The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) finds it imperative to address the recent irresponsible and callous attempt by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti Central Senatorial District to distort history and point fingers at the North for alleged conspiracies to frustrate Godswill Akpabio’s tenure as Senate President.
“This desperate attempt to rewrite history and as usual, put the blame on the North for all the country’s woes is unacceptable as well as repugnant to the sensibilities of northerners.
” In his misguided and insane tirade, Senator Bamidele ignorantly forgot or deliberately ignored key historical facts that paint a different but true picture. He failed to acknowledge that it was President Shehu Shagari, a northerner, who made Joseph Wayas president of the Senate of the Second Republic, against a fellow northern aspirant in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
“Furthermore, Bamidele mischievously failed to mention that it was President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner, who orchestrated the removal of several southern individuals from the Senate presidency.
” He must also remember that southern politicians like President Obasanjo too have played their part in manipulating the political landscape when he ruthlessly removed three Peoples Democratic Party national chairman of northern extraction from their positions.
“Bamidele seems to have a selective memory when it comes to political alliances and the role that Northern politicians have played in shaping the country’s leadership by failing to acknowledge the support that Northern politicians provided to figures like President Tinubu, allowing him to secure the presidential ticket of the APC and ensuring his emergence as president with their overwhelming votes of 60 percent.
“His rude attempts to deflect attention from the budget padding revelations made by Senator Abdul Ningi only further highlight his desperation to change the narrative,” the statement said.
The group expressed concerns over the level of transparency in Senate following the budget padding scandal rocking the house.
” We note the revelation that some Senators got N500m each from the 2024 budget while some collected N200m all in the bid to cover-up the fraud uncovered.
” It was also discovered that some senatorial districts have up to N120 billion while other senatorial districts have just N1.2 billion.
” It was also revealed that in the budget presented to the Senate, some constituencies were allocated N120 billion, some N50 billion; some N30 billion. Some have less than N1 billion.
” Although the allegation has been dismissed as being untrue both by the presidency and the legislative arm of the government, the development has unearthed non transparent and unjustified financial allocations to the National Assembly, thus further casting doubts over its integrity.
“The absence of reasonable explanations by the Senate leadership as to where these monies were inserted in the budget emphasizes the validity of Senator Ningi’s assertions regarding the lack of detailed allocation for the stated amount in the 2024 budget,” it said.
CNG, which said it would not fold its hands and allow the North to be rubbished, condemned the actions of two northern Senators, Aminu Tambuwal and Ahmed Lawal, for allegedly betraying the interest of the region.
” The CNG is also dismayed by the actions of traitors like Aminu Tambuwal and Ahmed Lawal to the Northern cause. These individuals, in their pursuit of personal gain, have betrayed the trust and integrity of the region that elevated them to positions of power.
“Despite their glaring betrayal, Bamidele continues on the path of his forefathers who have under various administrations tried to bring down the North by destroying its institutions, expelling its people from positions of responsibility in government, undermining its economic and social fabrics, and encouraging rampant poverty and social problems.
“The CNG today declares enough is enough. The North will no longer remain passive under such deliberate and sustained attacks on its leaders, its integrity and dignity, and will henceforth be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted treatment from any quarter. Bamidele and his ilk, with their collaborators from the North, should be warned that their actions will not go unnoticed and in the fullness of time, they will be held accountable for their utterances.
“All those who have no other useful vocation other than attacking northern leaders under the slightest of pretexts should know that our patience has reached its nadir. The North’s reticence in speaking out or taking action is not born of fear or ignorance of how to respond in kind. It is simply because of our respect for others and deep commitment to national integration.
“We therefore warn Senators Bamidele, Tambuwal, Lawal, and others like them to approach political discourse with honesty, integrity, and a sense of historical context. Any further attempt to blame the North for unjustified injustices and conspiracies shall not be tolerated and would be vehemently resisted. The North will no longer stand idly by while its leaders and integrity are attacked and undermined.
“We finally demand detailed breakdowns and transparency in budget allocations for government-owned enterprises, agencies like the National Judicial Council, Independent National Electoral Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and the National Assembly,” the statement added.
