Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno South, has reaffirmed his stance on comments made during a recent interview with Arise Television, where he alleged that kleptocrats populate the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Following his comments, Ndume was removed from his position as the chief whip of the senate by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which also asked him to resign as a member of the party.
In an interview in Abuja on Friday, Ndume stated that he saw nothing wrong with his remarks and considered his removal as the chief whip an “act of God.” Subsequently, Senate President Godswill Akpabio removed him as the vice-chairman of the appropriation panel and appointed him to head the senate committee on tourism.
Reflecting on the situation for the first time, Ndume said he reviewed the interview and received feedback from friends and elders, all of whom affirmed that he had not said anything untrue or inappropriate.
“I have reviewed the interview I granted. I also shared it with friends, leaders, and elders in this country to review and get back to me to tell me if I have said anything that is not true or that is wrong in that interview,” Ndume said.
“Unanimously, the people I shared with and my conviction too, tell me that I didn’t do anything wrong, I did not say anything wrong and therefore, I want to state that I stand with all my statements in the interview I granted.
“The party that recommended me to be removed as being the chief whip of the senate, I take that as an act of God. It is God that gave me that position, and it is God that took that through APC, so I bear no grudges.”
Ndume has also rejected his new appointment in the upper legislative chamber.
“I learnt that I have been appointed chairman of tourism. I want to state here that I beg to decline for two reasons,” he said. “You must do something that you are interested in. I’m not a tourist, I don’t have a visa to any country as I am speaking to you. I have never been to China, India, or France except America where I schooled, and London I used to go, but even at that, I can’t remember going to any of these countries. I’m not experienced in that. I would prefer to be an ordinary member; besides, I have committees that I’m already content with.”
