The Senate has responded to the statement by the former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, in which he described the claim that the 2016 budget was missing from the upper legislative chamber as an indication of the indiscipline that produced its leadership.

Speaking with journalists, through its Spokesperson, at the National Assembly, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, it said: “It is regrettable that a man of Akande’s status would be responding to mere speculation without cross-checking his facts and eager to latch on to any opportunity to bring to disrepute the leadership of the Senate, just because he failed to get his choice candidates elected.”

Further speaking with reporters in Abuja, Aliyu urged Akande to check his records properly so that he could see that “at no time did the Senate say the 2016 budget was missing.”

Aliyu reiterated that the Senate had insisted in several official statements and press interviews by its principal officers that the budget was not missing but that two different versions are now available.

“We have said it several times that the budget was not missing. That, two versions of the details of the budget exist and this is no longer in doubt as the Presidency has equally admitted this.

“We expect a man of Akande’s calibre to cross-check his facts and take us up on our words. That he decided to ignore the facts and make comments on speculations is regrettable. He is a man who had served in government. He is a leader of the party with the majority in the Senate and he has several channels of cross-checking facts as against speculations.”

He also noted that the statements by Akande was another expression of the frustration that the former Governor of Osun State suffers for not being able to impose his lackeys on the Senate as leaders.

“Chief Akande is still sulking after his group’s failed attempt to impose certain individuals as the leaders of the Senate last year. So, he was in a hurry to condemn the leadership. We want him to know that the leadership of the Senate can only emerge through the provisions of the constitution and the standing rules of the institution. As a democrat, Akande should know that once the majority has elected the leadership, all parties to the contest ought to accept the decision.

“To continue belly-aching and working to undermine the institution because of the failure to get one’s choice candidates elected cast doubts on his democratic credentials. It appears he is only a democrat when he has his way. We advise him to move on and let us help the legislative institution to focus on its agenda to serve the people in line with the much needed change that President Muhammadu Buhari promised the nation.”

•Photo shows Bisi Akande.