By Kingston Magare
Senator Ali Ndume said he stood by his criticism of the President Bola Tinubu administration and that his utterances does not warrant his removal as Chief Whip of the Senate.
The All-Progressives Congress Senate caucus voted Thursday to removed Ndume as Chief Whip and also stripped him of his membership of the Appropriation Committee. He was then named chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee.
But reacting to the development Friday Ndume representing Borno South said he would not accept being chairman of the Tourism Committee, because he lacked the experience to operate in the field.
“I did not say anything wrong. And therefore, I want to state that I stand by all my statements in the interview I granted,” said Ndume
“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.”
On his appointment as chairman of the tourism committee he added: ” I’m not interested in accepting the committee on tourism for.
“I’m inexperienced in that in that field. 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.”
He stated that he bore no grudges for his removal as Chief Whip.
“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,” Ndume said.
“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.”
He concluded that he would consult his people on whether to resign from the APC or remain in the party.
