*Why I Rejected Tourism Committee Chairmanship
FOLLOWING his removal by the senate and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the chief whip and chairman of the senate Committee on Army for criticising the administration of President Bola Tinubu Reacting to his criticism of President Bola Tinubu, the senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, said he stood by his word and hoped the President would take appropriate measures to eliminate the suffering of the people.
According to him: “I did not say anything wrong. Therefore, I want to state that I stand by all my statements in the interview I granted.
“So, I know that I’m not wrong. The people are not wrong by speaking the truth and standing by the truth.
“And I pray that the President, who by now, I expect the message should have gotten to him, looks at what I have said and takes appropriate measures to eliminate the suffering of the people.”
On APC’s suggestion for him to resign from the party, Ndume said he was a founding member of the party, recalling when former President Muhammadu Buhari, in the company of Tinubu, ordered him to sign a document to join APC at the Imo House in Abuja, he informed his people before going public; hence he would consult his people before deciding on whether to leave the APC or not.
“So, I am not a new member; I didn’t join APC just like that, it was in consultation with my people that I joined APC.”
Ndume said he could not speak up immediately after his sack because he was mourning the death of a family member, but explained that he declined the chairmanship of the Committee on Tourism because he lacks the experience and exposure to lead such a sensitive group.
The former head of the campaign to elect Godswill Akpabio as senate president recalled that he never actually wanted to be a senate whip after serving as the leader in the 8th Senate, saying he was given the chance to choose which committee to serve as the vice chairman.
“Secondly, the party that recommended to the senate that I should be removed from being the chief whip, I take that as an act of God, because if it is God who gave me that position, it is God that took it through APC. So, I bear no grudges about that. Ndume said.
“After all, I did not contest to be the chief whip. I did not contest to be the vice chairman of the Appropriation Committee. I contested to be… one of the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God granted me that victory and I’m happy with God, what God has given to me.
“So, I’m not interested in accepting the committee on tourism for the two reasons- I am inexperienced in that. I don’t know anything, I’m not knowledgeable about tourism. So, I would, if any, prefer to remain as an ordinary member, so that I can learn about tourism.”
