I Won't Apologize To Saraki, Senate- Ndume

Reacting publicly for the first time to his suspension from the Senate, the lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has revealed that his travail at the upper chamber was sparked by his support for the ideals and policies of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmaker, who added that he was handed a six-month suspension for speaking the truth, vowed on Sunday that he would not tapologise to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in order to get reinstated.

The lawmaker representing Borno south, Ali Ndume, has stated that he would not apologise to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in order to get reinstated, following his suspension by the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Ndume was slammed with the suspension by the Senate after he had requested the upper legislative house to investigate online media report that accused Saraki, and a fellow senator, Dino Melaye, of wrongdoings, to the extent that the the allegations against the two breached his privileges as a Senator.

The report by Sahara Reporters had accused the Senate President of using fake Customs papers to import an official vehicle while Melaye was accused of lying that he graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University.

But after investigations into the matter by the Senate committee on Public Petitions and Ethics, the lawmakers were cleared of the charges, as Ndume was accused of raising a false alarm without first of all verifying the report. This culminated in his suspension.

Shortly after it was reported that Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state had met with Saraki trying to persuade him to reverse Ndume’s suspension, the Senate President told newsmen that he alone cannot make that possible, adding that it is the decision of the Senate.

But addressing a crowd of supporters who turned out to receive him when he visited his constituency, the Senator insisted that he does not regret the actions that led to his earlier removal as Senate Leader and his recent suspension.

He pointed out that his suspension was because of his insistence on doing the right thing, arguing that it was not just because of his call for the investigation of his colleagues as widely believed in some quarters.

Ndume, who was at Shani, Biu, Bayo and Kwaya Kusar local government areas of Borno state where he was received by politicians and monarchs, reasoned that if his suspension was based on corruption or abuse of office, he would not have been well received by his people.

He however, assured that though he is on suspension, he would continue to work for his people, particularly in the area of execution of constituency projects.

While speaking at the palace of the Emir of Biu, Umar Aliyu, the senator said: “Your Royal Highness, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it took us hours to squeeze through the crowd of supporters to get to this place. And this gives me the greatest joy because my people still appreciate me.

(Today)