A dramatic confrontation reportedly erupted behind closed doors in the Senate on Tuesday as Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South locked horns with the leadership of the National Assembly over the state of government projects, unpaid contractors, and the implementation of loans approved for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
What began as a routine executive session reportedly escalated into a heated exchange after Senator Kawu openly questioned the impact of billions of naira in loans approved by the Senate, arguing that many infrastructure projects across the country had stalled despite the massive borrowing.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, Kawu expressed frustration over what he described as the failure of the government to settle contractors handling critical projects nationwide. He reportedly warned fellow lawmakers that the situation could become a major political liability ahead of future elections.
The senator was said to have told colleagues that numerous contractors had abandoned project sites because payments had not been made despite the National Assembly’s approval of substantial loan requests by President Tinubu.
Sources quoted Kawu as saying that many lawmakers, particularly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would struggle to defend the administration’s performance before voters if visible development projects remained incomplete.
The comments reportedly triggered an immediate reaction from members of the Senate leadership, who challenged the senator’s position and raised issues surrounding his political relationship with the administration.
As tensions intensified, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reportedly reminded lawmakers of what they described as concessions and opportunities allegedly extended to Senator Kawu following his defection to the APC.
According to accounts of the meeting, the Senate leadership revealed details of an alleged arrangement involving the senator, the Presidency, and Senate authorities.
Source: GlintNews24
