Politics
Ndume meets APC leadership, apologises for remarks on Tinubu’s govt
The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday apologized to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume was removed as the Senate Chief Whip last month after he publicly criticised the president over his handling of the country’s affairs.
The senator, who spoke in a programme on Arise TV, said President Tinubu has been caged by his aides in Aso Rock.
He added that former President Muhammadu Buhari was a more accessible leader.
Following the attack on the president, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and signed by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, recommended the removal of Ndume as the Senate Chief Whip.
The party also nominated the senator representing Borno North, Mohammed Monguno, as the new chief whip.
The development prompted angry reactions from Nigerians with many slamming the Red Chamber for making a mockery of the nation’s democracy with its conduct.
In a chat with journalists after a meeting with the party’s NWC in Abuja, Ndume admitted that he erred by raising issues on television instead of informing the party leadership.
READ ALSO: ‘I stand by my statements on Tinubu’s interview,’ Ndume reacts to removal as Senate Chief Whip
He said: “Yesterday, I was invited to the party and here I am to discuss family matters. Actually, the national chairman is not just a national chairman to me but a father. With what has happened which you are all aware of, it is not surprising that I was invited to hear my side and we had family discussions.
“I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I promised the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended with the party. That is something that moving forward I will do.
“But whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism and those issues maybe said strongly but they are true but then I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop.
“My membership, I have not been expelled, even the party did not say we don’t want you here, because he is my father. The only thing the party said is that look if you don’t want this house you can go to any house. Where will I go? This is my house.”
On his part, Ganduje said the party was satisfied with Ndume’s apology and would convey the same to the Senate leadership to review its position.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
