*Says Senators making it more difficult for Nigerians to trust them
By: AUSTINE AGBO EMMANUEL, Kaduna
The immediate past chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) and Country Director, Global Peace foundation Nigeria, Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab has faulted the Nigerian Senate over the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi.
It would be recalled that Senator Ningi of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, was suspended last week Tuesday, for three months over the allegations of N3.7trn padding of the 2024 Budget.
Reacting to the incident at a thanksgiving service organised in his honour of for meritorious service as CAN Secretary and Chairman Kaduna State at the weekend in Kaduna, Hayab said that the Nigerian senators have made it more difficult for Nigerians to trust them as leaders.
“What we saw few days ago in the country is like the Senators think that all of us are stupid when there was the issue of budget padding. And the story from every indication shows that all were not right and all they needed to do was to go back to their records and find out what was wrong but they didn’t even want to check their records but busy celebrating and suspending the senator. I think this is the most craziest thing I have ever seen.
“I am disappointed in our Nigerian Senators for thinking that all of us are fools after listening to them and I just wonder that they paid money to air that kind of information to the general public.
“That is the most shameful thing Nigerians have ever heard and nobody is even talking as if we are satisfied. I Rev. Hayab I am not satisfied. I found what happened that day as a disservice to the nation and a big disgrace because how can they spend such hours talking about that. They should have called a press conference and say one of us said this but this is our position not to spend such hours claiming that they can defend themselves. I can tell them that they have made more Nigerians not to trust them and made more Nigerians to see them as corrupt leaders.” He said.
Hayab, who also lamented the renewed attacks in some parts of Kaduna State and Nigeria in general, stressed that the Senate should have been more concerned about securing Nigerians and not fighting themselves over an obvious matter.
“I think what our senators need to do is to double their efforts and ensure that Nigerians are secured. They are even the one who exposed themselves on what they shared. I am not sure in my knowledge that legislative work is sharing money. These are the things we do in this country that aid and support corruption and we call it constituency project, It’s Constituency corruption.” Hayab added.
In his remarks, the lawmaker representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, Senator Marshall Katung, who graced the thanksgiving ceremony at the Amazing Grace Baptist Church Gonin Gora, alongside other dignitaries, said Hayab cannot be described in a short term except to say that he is a man of integrity.
“He is a man of integrity, a man who is fearless in fighting for his people when he believes in a course. He does not shy away from putting it the way it is. He has patience, integrity, humility and also foresight on issues that concern the people of Southern Kaduna in particular, the people of Kaduna state and Nigeria in general.” Senator Katung said.
Other dignitaries present at the event included, the former and current president of the Baptist theological Seminary, Kaduna Rev. Prof Reuben Ishaya and Rev. Prof. Moses Audi respectively, Chairman, Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Leke Ogundayo, Conference President FCT, Rev. Dr. Raphael Gwana, convention president, Rev. Dr. Ishaya Akanji, former Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN) Apostle Emma Ego Bako, Apostle Emmanuel Kure of Throne Room Ministry Kafanchan, former commissioners, amongst others, all testifying that Hayab is a good man.
