Two days after his removal as the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume has said the reason why declined the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism, is that he lacks the experience and exposure to lead such a sensitive group.
The Borno South lawmaker said this in his country home in Maiduguri on Friday about 48 hours after he was removed as the Senate Chief Whip, maintaining that he never wanted to be a senate whip after serving as the leader in the eight Senate
The lawmaker said he was given the chance to choose which committee to serve as the vice chairman having successfully led the campaigns that brought about the emergence of Godwill Akpabio as President of the Senate.
“Secondly, the party that recommended to the Senate that I should be removed from being the chief whip of the Senate, 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 told you. I told you 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,” the Borno South lawmaker said
Reacting to his criticism of President Bola Tinubu, Ndume said he stood by his word and hoped the President would take appropriate measures to eliminate the suffering of the people.
He said, “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 the charge to resign from the APC, the senator said he was a founding member of the party.
He also stated that when ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in the company of President Bola 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.” the lawmaker said.
Ndume said he could not speak up immediately after his sack because he was mourning the death of a family member.