The Southern Nigeria Elders Solidarity Forum and some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have condemned the reactions of senators from the North to the 2024 budget and the planned relocation of some offices of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.
The 58 federal lawmakers, under the aegis of the Northern Senators Forum had condemned President Bola Tinubu over alleged unfair treatment of the North, in the N28.7 trillion 2024 national budget and approving the relocation of some departments of CBN and Aviation agencies to Lagos.
The Senators spoke through a statement, by their spokesperson, Senator Suleiman Kawu Summaila (NNPP Kano South) on Monday in Abuja titled, “Allocation and distribution of funds in 2024 National Budget and Relocation of some Federal Agencies to Lagos”.
But reacting in a statement on Sunday, spokesman of the Southern Elders forum, Emmanuel Silas expressed regrets that Senators who are leaders of the people could, “suddenly switch energy to issues capable of setting regions against each other.”
Silas described the reactions of the Northern senators as strange adding that they participated in scrutinizing the budget when it was presented to the National Assembly by the president.
He said the senators’ statement was not only unfortunate, but also the least expected of people of their caliber, saying such was capable of causing distractions in governance and creating unnecessary tension in the country.
The forum cautioned against , ” deliberate attempt to undermine a government that had been widely acknowledged as doing everything humanly possible to take the country to its place of destiny, without negatively affecting any part of the country in whatever way.
“The statement by the Senators gave an indication that the 2024 budget was either not well studied, or they looked the other way in getting the genuine facts that necessitated the planned relocation of certain departments of government to Lagos, which was basically aimed at administrative convenience.”
Also, the Northern Peace and Justice Initiative in a statement by its President, Abdulkabir Farouk said contrary to claims by the Senators, there had never been any steps taken to suggest that the Tinubu’s administration had plans to externalise any region of the country, or short-changed them in the scheme of things.
The group advised the Senators, ” to channel whatever bothers them on the runnings of government, through a more mature way, or at best, seek audience with the President to discuss such matters, rather than engaging in activities, perceived to be tantamount to deliberate incitement or subversions.”
On their part, the Coalition of Civil Society For Good Governance and Accountability sued for peace among the Northern senators adding that they have benefited immensely in the National Assembly.
According to them, “All Northern NASS members were involved with many northerners as chairmen of key committees.
“We have the chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, who is a Northerner from Kano. The ZIP projects are evenly distributed across the country, and all NASS members nominate projects.”
