Arewa group challenges Akpabio’s accusations against Emefiele, cites budget padding scandal

The Arewa Youths have strongly criticized the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for his recent comments accusing the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, of leaving behind a “foamy economy.” The youth group claims that the National Assembly’s budget padding, rather than Emefiele’s actions, has caused significant financial issues in the nation’s treasury.

In a statement signed by Isa Galadima, the Arewa Youths condemned Akpabio’s remarks made at a reception in his honor in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, over the weekend. The Senate President had accused Emefiele of leaving a large hole in the national treasury, stating, “I still stand by my position.” However, the Arewa Youths refuted Akpabio’s claims, suggesting that the real problem lies within the Senate’s handling of the budget under his leadership.

The group recalled a recent budget padding scandal in the National Assembly, revealed by Senator Abdul Ningi, who was subsequently suspended for exposing the alleged irregularities. In an interview with BBC Hausa service, Ningi disclosed that the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion, but the Federal Government was operating a separate budget of N28 trillion. This discrepancy suggested a possible N3 trillion budget padding without clear allocations, making it one of the most significant cases of budget manipulation in Nigeria’s history.

The Arewa Youths highlighted that instead of addressing the budget padding allegations, the Akpabio-led Senate used its power to intimidate and suspend Ningi, sending a warning to others willing to speak out. Given these developments, the group questioned Akpabio’s credibility in his accusations against Emefiele.

Galadima stated, “The Akpabio-led Senate did not come clean on these allegations but rather used power to suppress voices. Now Akpabio is turning around to accuse Emefiele. It’s unacceptable for the Senate President to make such comments when there are unresolved issues in his own administration.”

The Arewa Youths urged Akpabio to focus on addressing the internal issues within the Senate and the National Assembly rather than deflecting attention by criticizing others. They called on Nigerians to be vigilant and question the actions of their leaders, especially when it comes to matters of national importance.