In a bold stance, the ousted Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has reiterated his criticisms of President Bola Tinubu's administration, stating he has no regrets for his remarks made during an interview with Arise TV last Thursday. Ndume expressed his acceptance of his removal by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a letter written to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, last Wednesday.
In his interview, Senator Ndume voiced concerns over the administration's lack of significant action in tackling poverty, insecurity, hunger, and other pressing issues. Following his candid comments, the APC, through a letter read by Senate President Akpabio, demanded Ndume resign from the party and suggested he join either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or another opposition party.
Despite his removal as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation and the offer to chair the Senate Committee on Tourism, Ndume rejected the new role, citing his lack of knowledge and experience in tourism and his decade-long absence from international travel.
Speaking in Maiduguri yesterday, Ndume said, "I had wanted to react since the day I was illegally removed as Chief Whip of the Senate, but I couldn’t do so because I was mourning. I now deem it fit to do so. I am a Democrat and a realist, and someone who always says the truth no matter whose ox is gored."
Ndume continued, "It is patriotic to support the president insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him if 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. 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 statements aligning with my statement regarding excruciating hunger and insecurity under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu."
Addressing his removal, Ndume said, "I took it as an Act of God, the decision of the NWC of our great party, APC that recommended to the Senate that I should be removed, which they did, because it was God that 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."
Ndume also commented on his future in the APC, stating, "As for the Chairman, Senate Committee on Tourism offered to me, I want to say that I am not a tourist and not good in tourism. As it is, I have spent over 10 years without going to any foreign country. On the advice 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 the people of 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, I will work with."
Regarding potential legal action, Ndume declared, "I will not go to Court. I surrendered my case to Almighty Allah (God)."
He called on his supporters and all Nigerians to continue to pray for divine intervention for the masses, to restore peace in the land, and to remain calm and law-abiding as events unfold.
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