July 22, (THEWILL) – During the valedictory session for Senators of the 9th Senate in June 2023, Senator Ali Ndume emphasised his usually confrontational style in addressing issues that he strongly believes in and apologised to any of his colleagues he may have unintentionally hurt by his style.
The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has for the past week been engaging his party, the governing All Progressives Congress, APCP and the Senate in a war of words, reflective of his style.
Trouble started when he deployed his abrasive style, some would say, in addressing burning social economic issues in the country.
The lawmaker had in an interview with Arise TV, said the country is being led by those who are unfit to govern, prioritising personal interests over the well-being of the nation and its citizens.
“The government is also populated by kleptocrats, but unfortunately that is not what the President is up to; he really meant renewed hope, but you can only do that when you have people around you that are on the same type of thinking,” he added.
Soon afterward, he granted another interview to BBC Hausa, where he criticised President Bola Tinubu over the food insecurity in the country. He told the BBC that the President had shut his doors against members of his cabinet.
“The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies. We want to draw the government’s attention to the fact that Nigeria is not only facing a high cost of living but also food scarcity. We want the President to intervene in the issue of high cost of living and food scarcity”, he said.
Ndume’s criticisms of the government sparked a backlash. While he was removed as Senate Chief Whip, his party, the APC, also asked him to resign his membership and join any opposition party of his choice.
The APC leadership in the letter read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during plenary, asked Ndume to resign from the party and join either the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or any other opposition party.
Ndume as Chief Whip was replaced with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North. Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, APC, Ondo Central was immediately announced as Monguno ‘s successor.
In his immediate reaction, Ndume, rejected a new position offered to him as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism. Just when everything seemed to have been settled, Ndume raised his voice in faraway Maiduguri where he had gone to attend to personal matters.
Speaking at the weekend with journalists at his residence in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Ndume, addressed issues raised in the letter by the national leadership of his party about him. He said only his constituency who elected him can ask him to leave the APC
He said only “my people, my constituency and teeming supporters will decide for me whether to stay in APC, join another party or quit politics”.
He called on his supporters and Nigerians to continue to pray to God to have mercy on the masses, restore peace in the land and remain calm and law-abiding always as things unfold.
“As for the Chairman Senate Committee on Tourism offered to me, I want to say that I am not a tourist and not good at tourism,“ he said in response to his new designation offered by the Senate leadership after his removal as Chief Whip.
“As it is, I have spent over 10 years without going to any foreign country. I have never been to the United Kingdom (UK). Even the United States of America which I went to was when I was schooling there.
“I am a democrat, a realist and someone who always says the truth, no matter whose ox is gored.
“According to former US President, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, and I quote, ‘Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise, he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else’
He said he had no regret over statements he expressed in the interviews that made the APC and Senate to throw him under the bus.
“Therefore, I have not regretted what I said during my interview with Arise TV. I thank all Nigerians who took to their social media platforms and groups who issued a press statement aligning with my statement regarding excruciating hunger and insecurity under President Bola Tinubu.
“Secondly, the NWC of our great party, APC, recommended to the Senate that I should be removed, which they did. I took that as an act of God because it is God who gave me that mandate as Chief Whip.
“So, I bear no grudges about what transpired. After all, I did not contest to be the Chief Whip or to be the Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. Rather, I contested to be a Senator representing southern Borno and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is not that I am desperate. I am over 64 years-old now and I thank God.
“On the advice(s) that I am free to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any political party of my choice, I want to reiterate that I am one of the founding members of the APC.
“It is my people, my constituency and teaming supporters that will decide for me whether to stay in APC, join another party or quit politics. Whatever their advice is what I will work with.
“On whether I will take the matter to court, I want to say that I will not go to court. I surrendered my case to Almighty Allah (God).”
He does not seem to be done with his settled view about the Federal Government’s conduct,
“I am happy. Yesterday the President approved the minimum wage to N70,000 only. It is a good move. But the minimum wage is still minimal, compared to a 50kg bag of rice which costs over N70,000,” he noted.
