Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a lawmaker representing Nasarawa West has called for probe into the budgetary allocations to the National Assembly.
Adamu who is a strong member of Parliamentary Support Group, made the call while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday.
He said an audit had become necessary in view of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki’s refusal to vacate his seat after defecting from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said, “I call for a forensic audit of the finances of the Parliament under the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“As the Chairman of the National Assembly, there is so much that he is doing that we want to take a look at.
“There should be a forensic audit of the National Assembly funds under his watch.
“He went to a party that is now losing ground and that is now a minority in the National Assembly.”
On continued call by the leadership of the APC for Saraki to vacate his seat, Adamu said, “It is pretty obvious that Saraki’s influence has diminished completely. But he’s just latching on to that seat because of the privileges he enjoys.
“Ordinarily, Saraki needed not wait for any pressure to be mounted on him before he resigns from his position as Senate President.
“You cannot command any respect or assert your authority as a leader when majority of those you’re supposed to lead have lost confidence in you and are opposed to your leadership.
“So, he does not even need anyone to ask that he should throw in the towel because he and his PDP have lost majority in the Senate.”
He stressed that, Saraki was entitled to aspire for any office, including that of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On who succeeds Saraki if he exits his seat as President of the Senate, the lawmaker said, “You do not cross a bridge before you get to it.
“All the speculations about the purported rift is aimed at dividing us and distracting us from our determination to assert the interest of our party, which enjoys the majority in the Senate.”
He added that the lawmakers were united and that the party had the goodwill of Nigerians in view of progress being made in different sectors of the economy.
While citing the party’s victory in recent Senatorial bye-elections in Katsina, Kogi and Bauchi states, the lawmaker said it was a sign of victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress come 2019.
(NAN)
