…says he was given the chance to choose which committee to serve as Vice Chairman
Senator Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno North Senatorial District, has broken the silence after his removal as the Chief Whip of the Senate, saying he led the campaign that made Senator Godswill Akpabio the Senate President.
Ndume stated this on Friday on Channels TV barely 48 hours after being removed as Chief Whip of the Senate.
The 64-year-old Lawmaker added that he was given the chance to choose which committee to serve as Vice Chairman without contesting for it.
He also said that he never wanted to be a Senate Whip after serving as the leader in the 8th Senate
“It is the party that recommended to the Senate that I should be removed from being the chief whip of the Senate, I take that as an act of God because if it is God who gave me that position. It is God that took it through APC. So, I bear no grudges about that.
“After all, I did not contest to be the chief whip. I did not contest to be the vice chairman of the appropriation committee. I contested to be one of the Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God granted me that victory and I’m happy with God, what God has given to me.
“So, I’m not interested in accepting the committee on tourism for the two reasons I told you.
“I told you I’m inexperienced in that. I don’t know anything, I’m not knowledgeable about tourism. So, I would, if any, prefer to remain as an ordinary member so that I can learn about tourism,” Ndume said.
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Recall that Ndume was removed as the Senate Chief Whip after the 10th Senate led by Akpabio reviewed the conversation that prompted his ousting. He was removed after his criticism of the President Bola Tinubu government’s handling of the nation. About two days after the decision, the lawmaker said he has also declined the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism, arguing that he lacks the experience and exposure to lead such a sensitive group.
“I did not say anything wrong, and, therefore, I want to state that I stand by all my statements in the interview I granted.
“So, I know that I’m not wrong. The people are not wrong by speaking the truth and standing by the truth.
“And I pray that the president who by now, I expect the message should have gotten to him, looks at what I have said and takes appropriate measures to eliminate the suffering of the people,” the Lawmaker said.
On leaving the party, Ndume said he was one of the 22 Senators from the nPDP that formed the APC when the current National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, was a Deputy Governor in Kano State.
He, however, stated that he was going to consult with his people as he did when former President Muhammadu Buhari in the company of President Bola Tinubu ordered him to sign a document to join APC at the Imo House in Abuja.
Ndume who said he could not speak up immediately after his sack because he was mourning the death of a family member, said, “So, I’m not a new member. I didn’t join APC just like that. It was in consultation with my people that I joined APC. I take his advice and I will get across to my people.”
