Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, had urged the National Assembly to maintain its independence and not become a tool in the hands of the government.
The former vice president said this during a visit to the residence of suspended Bauchi lawmaker, Senator Abdul Ningi, on Monday, April 22.
Ningi was suspended after accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of introducing illegal projects into the 2023 budget.
The lawmaker also alleged that the Bola Tinubu-led federal government was operating a different budget from the one approved by the National Assembly.
Atilu urged the National Assemly to prioritize the interests of ordinary Nigerians over the political class.
“The integrity of public institutions, especially such as the National Assembly, is a mirror to how the interests of the masses are preserved and protected in a democracy,” Atiku said.
“This agitation did not start just recently. It started during the military era, and it is essential that public institutions, especially the National Assembly, do not become a tool in the hands of oppressive governments.
“By our visitation today, we have come to show solidarity with Senator Abdul Ningi and to also pass a message to those who see public office as an instrument to oppress the people, that Senator Ningi is not alone in this struggle.
“In fact, the entire people of Nigeria and friends of Nigeria in the international community are behind our drive to cleanse the country of oppressive nuances of people in positions of authority,” he added.
In his remarks, Ningi appreciated Atiku for the visit and “for choosing to take a stand with the masses”.
“The struggle that we are in for today is to make sure that whichever political party is in power and whoever is in the position of public office, the interests of the masses must remain sacrosanct and insulated from the whims of any one individual, no matter how highly placed,” Ningi said.
