BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
Former presidential aspirant on the platform of the defunt Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Muihammadu Umaru Maizabura has called on the National Assembly members to close ranks with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the resolution of the controversies surrounding the 2016 budget for the masses to start feeling the impact of the change agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Alhaji Maizabura, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, said the masses of Nigeria have suffered a lot, hence the need for the National Assembly members to resolve whatever the issues are for dividends of democracy to touch the lives of the masses, more especially in view of the fall in prices of crude oil.
Maizabura, who was also the national Chairman of the National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) said the federal legislators are delaying the 2016 budget because they have seen that governance is no longer business as usual, hence the need for them to frustrate the efforts of the President to bring about the needed change.
The former presidential aspirant also appealed to the legislators to allow the law to follow its course in the Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s trial, adding that the Senate should also suspend the issue of purchase of official vehicles worth over N30 million each, as Nigerians are suffering in abject poverty.
While commending President Buhari for fighting insurgency in the North-East, he pleaded that the large chunk of the Budget should be channeled towards the reconstruction of the region.
He also commended the gallantry of the military and the way and manner Governor Kashim Shettima is handling the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state and called on him to also extend similar gesture to Southern Borno, as many places there were also ravaged by the insurgency.