Sen Ndume rejects new appointment by Akpabio, says Nigerians are still angry

Former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has rejected his new appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, recently assigned to him by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio offered Ndume this new position after he was removed from his role as chief whip of the 10th Senate.

This decision followed a request from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), driven by Ndume’s recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking to reporters in Maiduguri on Friday, the capital of Borno State, Ndume defended his actions and expressed no regrets regarding his removal.

“I was not desperate about the position of Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee. I was urged to accept the Chief Whip role, considering my support for Akpabio’s emergence as Senate President. I chose the Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee willingly. I am not desperate,” Ndume stated.

Regarding his new appointment, Ndume said, “I learned that I was appointed Chairman of the Tourism Committee, but no official communication was made. I decline this offer for two reasons: I am not a tourist, and I lack expertise in tourism.”

Ndume called on President Bola Tinubu to address the issues he raised, highlighting the public’s dissatisfaction.

“It is unpatriotic to support the President blindly. True patriotism involves speaking the truth, not just to the President but to anyone in power. In Hausa, we say, ‘Allah ya na tare da mai gaskiya,’ meaning God is always on the side of truthful people,” he emphasized.

He added, “I believe I am right, and the people are right by standing up for the truth. I expect the President to review my concerns and take steps to alleviate the suffering of the masses. People are unhappy and suffering. Leaders need to re-evaluate their actions. It was God who gave me my position, and it was God who took it away. I bear no grudge. After all, I didn’t campaign for these roles; I campaigned to be a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Alhamdulillah, God granted me victory, and I stand with God.”