Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has formally declined the role of Chairman for the Senate Committee on Tourism, a position recently offered to him by Senate President Godswill Akpabio following his dismissal from the Chief Whip post.
Ndume’s ousting was a result of directives from the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), triggered by his outspoken criticisms of President Bola Tinubu. Despite this, Ndume stands firm, expressing no regrets about his remarks.
In a press briefing held in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Ndume articulated his lack of ambition for political positions, revealing that he had only accepted the Chief Whip role after considerable persuasion.
“I learned about my appointment as Chairman of the Tourism Committee; however, no official communication was made regarding this.
To be clear, I am declining this offer for two key reasons: firstly, I have no interest in tourism as I am not a tourist, and secondly, I lack the necessary expertise in that area,” he stated.
He further elaborated, “It is not patriotic to support the president blindly in all his actions. True patriotism lies in speaking the truth, not just to the president but to anyone in power. It is essential to voice the truth rather than to remain silent.”
“According to a Hausa saying, ‘Allah ya na tare da mai gaskiya,’ which translates to ‘God is always with the truthful.’ I am confident in my position; the voices of the people are justified when they speak the truth and stand by it. I hope that President Tinubu will reflect on my comments and take suitable actions to address the grievances of the citizens.”
Ndume stressed, “People are unhappy, suffering, and frustrated. It is imperative for leadership in this nation to reassess the situation. They need to approach me and clarify whether anything I’ve stated is incorrect or unfounded.
The position I held was granted by God, and it was also His will that it was taken away, so I harbor no resentment toward anyone. Ultimately, I did not seek the roles of Chief Whip or Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee; my goal was to serve as a senator for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He concluded with gratitude, saying, “Alhamdulillah, God has blessed me with victory, and I remain steadfast in my faith.”
