Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari of deliberately punishing the eighth senate by refusing to approve funds for constituency projects.
Saraki made this statement in response to Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s remark that he was not part of the Senate under Saraki.
Saraki explained that President Buhari withheld funds for constituency projects as a form of punishment because the eighth senate had questioned some loan requests presented by the executive.
He emphasized that instead of recognizing the legislature’s scrutiny as a democratic necessity, the Buhari government reacted hostilely, seeking to stifle the legislature’s performance.
In a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki clarified that President Buhari’s refusal to fund constituency projects was part of a retaliatory strategy against the eighth National Assembly.
Olaniyonu highlighted that Akpabio, as the Senate minority leader for over three years during the eighth Senate’s tenure, should have been aware of these circumstances.
He also noted that Akpabio’s recent experience as Senate President should have further informed him about these issues.
