The Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has described calls for the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio as mischievous.
In a statement on Friday, said that with the explanation given by the Senate and the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi who raised the allegations, the matter ought to have been restated.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had called for the resignation of the Senate President over alleged budget padding.
But PANDEF said there was no sincerity behind the call.
The statement signed by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ken Robinson, reads: “Those who are calling for the resignation of the Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the alleged budget padding are being mischievous, and their intentions are known.
“It is unfortunate that certain politicians and public commentators take pleasure in creating instability in the polity.
“The allegations of budget padding, unspecified appropriations, or double budgets made by the suspended Senator Abdul Ningi have already been explained as misrepresentations.
“We will not justify any wrongdoing, but, it is unacceptable that people would deliberately bid to tarnish the reputation of the first Senate President from the South-South after 40 years.
“The people of the South-South region will not accept a situation where certain individuals or groups of people attempt to discredit their political leaders. Enough is enough, this country belongs to all of us!”
