Immediate-past Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, who was recently
suspended by the Upper
Legislative Chamber, has vowed not to apologize to his colleagues, despite repeated moves by his governor, Kashim Shettima to intervene.
Legislative Chamber, has vowed not to apologize to his colleagues, despite repeated moves by his governor, Kashim Shettima to intervene.
It is been gathered from multiple sources that the
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, following the intervention of Governor
Shettima, decided to reduce the ‘sentence’ of Ndume.
As part of the requirements demanded by Saraki, Ndume was expected to
write a formal apology letter to the Senate, expressing his misguided
utterances and alleged false accusations against the Senate President
and Senator Dino Melaye.
To this effect, a delegation made up of senators from the north,
visited Ndume in his Abuja home, where they conveyed the message of the
Senate.
Our correspondent learnt that Ndume blatantly told the visiting
lawmakers that he will not tender any apology, but serve out his
suspension. Ndume reportedly told the senators that he was not in a
hurry to return.
Saraki, upon receiving the report from the delegation, may set up a
committee to consider the duration of the suspension and revert for
further legislative action.
It is unclear whether or not the Senate will reduce the sentence and
recall Ndume or stand its ground till the end of the stipulated period.
Ndume’s trouble started in December 2016 when he allegedly opposed
the rejection of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu by the Senate.
Ndume, who hails from the same senatorial district with Magu, further
incurred the wrath of the Senate, particularly allies of Saraki, when
he reportedly told State House correspondents that the Red Chamber did
not ask for the sack of the Secretary to Government of the Federation
(SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal.
While lawmakers retired to their various constituencies to celebrate
Christmas, Ndume’s traducers went to the thinking table to plot his
removal as Senate Leader. As soon as lawmakers resumed from the
Christmas break, Ndume was booted out as Leader.
Senator Dino Melaye purportedly spearheaded his removal. Not ready to
throw in the towel, Ndume put up a spirited fight and made several
attempts to take his own pound of flesh.
First, he opened a touchy issue when he called on the leadership of
the Senate to open the financial records of the National Assembly to the
public. According to him, Nigerians needed to know how billions of
naira budgeted every year were expended.
Ndume’s first salvo raised some questions and sent shock waves into
Saraki’s camp. While the first dust was yet to settle, Ndume, again, on
Tuesday, March 21, this year, called for the investigation of Saraki and
Melaye over the face-off with the Comptroller General of Customs, Col.
Hameed Ali (rtd) and certificate forgery allegation leveled against
Melaye.
Ndume, who came under a motion of national importance, said Saraki,
according to a story published by an online newspaper, sanctioned the
summon of the NCS over claims that his bullet proof Range Rover Sport
was impounded.
On the part of Melaye, Ndume said the online platform published a
story that the Kogi State born Senator did not obtain a degree in
Geography from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Ndume drew instances
from four scenarios.
He said a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu
Buhari, was accused of certificate forgery and how he eventually cleared
his name. He said former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was also
accused when he held sway as Senate boss.
According to Ndume, Wabara also cleared his name. He said the current
Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, as Speaker of the House
of Representatives, was accused of certificate forgery, but went ahead
and cleared his name.
His last reference was Dimeji Bankole, a former Speaker of the House
of Representatives. He said he was accused of not writing his Senior
Secondary School Examination. Again, Ndume said he cleared his name.
For keen observers, Ndume took on the wrong people at a wrong time.
Immediately Ndume’s allegations were referred to the Senate committee on
Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the whole political dynamics
in the Red Chamber changed.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Ethics committee, which was hitherto
believed to be slow in dispensing off cases, sprang back to life. In
less than a week, it concluded the hearing and passed a verdict, which
nailed Ndume.
Unknown to many Nigerians, the committee’s report ought to have been
presented last Tuesday but was deferred to Wednesday. No official reason
was given for the deference.
