Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has refused his appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism. This position was assigned to him by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip of the 10th Senate.
The decision to remove Ndume was influenced by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) due to his recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu.
Responding to his removal in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday, Ndume expressed no regret about the situation. He clarified, “Regarding my removal as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, I was not desperate about it. I was asked to accept the position of Chief Whip because I supported Akpabio’s emergence as Senate President. I was given the choice of committee, and I chose Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. I am not desperate.”
Ndume continued, “I learned that I was appointed Chairman of the Tourism Committee; nobody informed me formally, but I want to make it clear that I decline this offer for two reasons: I am not a tourist, and I lack knowledge about tourism.”
He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the issues he raised, emphasizing that the public is suffering. “It is unpatriotic to support the President blindly; it is patriotic to speak the truth, not only to the President but to anyone. In Hausa, we say ‘Allah ya na tare da mai gaskiya,’ meaning God is always on the side of truthful people.”
“I know I am not wrong; the people are not wrong for speaking the truth and standing by it. I expect the President to consider my statements and take appropriate measures to alleviate the suffering. People are unhappy, people are suffering, and leaders need to review their actions. They should tell me if I have said anything untrue or wrong. It is God who gave me that position, and it is God who took it away, so I hold no grudges. After all, I did not contest to be Chief Whip or Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee; I contested to be a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Alhamdulillah, God granted me victory, and I am with God.”
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