Senator Ali Ndume used to be a top officer in the National Assembly, holding important positions. But after he publicly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, he was removed from these positions. The ruling party, All Progressives Party (APC), felt he should have talked to them first before speaking out.
Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South, has now apologized to the APC. He admitted he made a mistake by not consulting the party before airing his grievances publicly. Despite his apology, he still believes what he said was true and came from a place of patriotism.
Ndume explained that he was called by the party to discuss what he referred to as “family matters.” He considers the APC National Chairman not just a leader but like a father to him. During their discussion, Ndume admitted his mistake of not consulting the party first. He promised that in the future, he would address his concerns with the party before making them public.
The APC’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, signed a letter directing the National Assembly to remove Ndume from his positions. They felt that as a senior party member, Ndume should have used party channels to express his concerns rather than going public.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ndume claimed that President Tinubu was being misled by people in the Presidential Villa. He said these people were feeding the President false information and keeping him away from Nigerians who could tell him the truth.
Due to his comments, Ndume was removed and replaced by Senator Mohammed Monguno. The APC felt Ndume’s statements were harmful and unguarded, and as a high-ranking party member, he should have handled his grievances internally.
This incident highlights the tension within the ruling party and the importance of party members addressing their concerns through proper channels. Ndume’s apology shows his willingness to make amends, but it also underscores the challenges of balancing personal convictions with party loyalty.
