Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has doubled down on his several warnings that Nigerians are still hungry even as he was removed on account of “speaking truth to power.”
Ndume was made the Senate Chief Whip and Vice Chairman Appropriation committee after supporting Godswill Akpabio to clinch the senate presidency.
But recent criticisms of the president, Bola Tinubu, in the face of a troubling economic situation, landed the Borno senator in trouble forcing his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress or APC to remove him as Senate Chief Whip.
Akpabio later made him Chairman Senate Committee on Tourism.
But the senator has rejected the fresh appointment while speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Friday.
He defended his action, saying he had no regret but warned that the issues he raised are still there and advised the president to look at them.
“On me being removed as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, I was not desperate about it,” Ndume, who aspired to be senate president of the 10th Senate said. “I was begged to accept the position of Chief whip knowing full well that I led the campaign for Akpabio’s emergence as the senate President and I was begged to choose the committee I wanted and I chose vice Chairman Appropriation committee. I am not desperate.”
He informed that, “I learnt that I was given the Chairman of Tourism Committee; nobody wrote to me, but I want to state here clearly that I declined this offer for two reasons; I am not a tourist so I am not interested in accepting the Chairman of Tourism. I am not knowledgeable about Tourism.”
Urging President Tinubu to look into issues that he raised, he emphasised that, “It is unpatriotic to stand by Mr President with whatever he does. It is patriotic to speak the truth not only to the President but anybody for that matter. It is unpatriotic not to speak the truth to power or anybody and still stand by that.
“In doing so, it is also worthy to note that in Hausa language (Allah ya na tare da mai gaskiya) meaning that God is always on the side of truthful people.
“I know I am not wrong; the people are not wrong by speaking the truth and by standing by the truth. I expect the president, who I believe that the report has gotten to, to look into what I have said and take appropriate measures to alleviate the suffering.
“People are not happy, people are suffering and angry. Leaders in this country need to take a review; they should get back to me to tell me whether I said anything that is not true or is wrong.
“It is God that gave me that position and it is God that took it, so I bear no grudge against anyone.
“After All, I didn’t contest to be the Chief Whip, I didn’t contest to be the Vice Chairman appropriation committee, I contested to be the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Alhamdulillah, God granted me victory and I am with God,” Ndume said.