Suspended senator representing Borno South Ali Ndume has vowed not to
apologise to senate president Bukola Saraki in order to be reinstated.
Ndume told his supporters in his constituency on Saturday, April 15,
that he was suspended by his colleagues in the Senate because he
wanted them to do what was right. The former Senate majority leader
said his suspension was not just because of his call for his
colleagues’ investigation but a series of other events which he
explained. Ndume told a gathering at the palace of the Emir of Biu
that he did not regret what he has done and that he would not have
been well received by his people if his suspension was based on
corruption or abuse of office.
He said: “Your Royal Highness, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it
took us hours to squeeze through the crowd of supporters to get to
this place. And this gives me the greatest joy because my people still
appreciate me.
“I will not remain a Senator for the rest of my life; but for the time
I serve as the representative of my people, I shall continue to do and
tell the truth. I know if I had erred, I would not have been received
here. But I enjoy the support of my people because they know my
suspension was because I spoke the truth. “I know those that suspended
me are going now regretting their actions because of the massive
protest that trailed my illegal suspension.
After seeing the support that I enjoy from Nigerians, the same people
that suspended me came to say I should tender an apology so that my
suspension could be lifted. But I said no to that because I did not
commit any offence in the first place. “They later came to say the
Senate President, Senator Melaye and I should go and reconcile our
difference; and I told them that I had no issue with either of them,
so there is nothing to reconcile – as far as I am concerned we have a
good working relationship.
“But I thank the Governor of Borno State, and Your Royal Highness,
the Emir of Biu, and all those that sent emissaries in seeking to
ensure that this issue is resolved. We are still talking, but I know I
had not committed any offence.” “My religion enjoins me to always
stand on the path of truth even if I turn around and found that
everyone has deserted me. “Firstly, I know my trouble with them
started because of my support for the policies and ideals of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Secondly, when Ibrahim Magu’s name was brought to the Senate as
nominee for the Chairmanship of EFCC, some group in the senate
insisted that he would not be cleared. And in my position as the then
Senate Majority leader, it was incumbent upon me to support any
nominee sent in by the Executive. Besides that, the same nominee is
from my state, Borno; besides, he had committed no offence to be
denied the senate clearance. “Above all, the majority of Nigerians
loved him because he is doing the job well even as an acting chairman
of EFCC. “Thirdly, when he was brought in for screening and it was not
successful, I took courage to tell them that they were acting out of
the Senate order. “And lastly, my position on the allegation levelled
on the Senate President as well as the issue of Senator Dino’s
certificate by a news medium was the final straw they needed to break
the camel’s back.
“But Your Royal Highness, it is incumbent upon we the Senators, under
Order 14-15 that if there is any issue or development or any action
that tends to rubbish the integrity of the Senate, we stand up to
ensure that we defend the name of the Senate. All I asked for was to
investigate an allegation published in a news medium against two of
our colleagues. “The President of the Senate has all the powers to
rule me out of order if he felt that the issues I raised were not
welcomed on the floor of the Senate. But because they had always
wanted to crucify me, they seized the moment to unleash their built-up
angst against me. So, they gave a dog to hang me. And they did that
when majority of the senators were not on seat. “I thank God this
turned out good to me, because it made me know how much love I enjoy
from Nigerians.”