Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has declined the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism, following his removal as the Senate Chief Whip.
Ndume was sacked from his position after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration, and he has since stood by his statements.
“So, I’m not interested in accepting the committee on tourism for the two reasons I told you,” Ndume said from his hometown of Maiduguri, 48 hours after his removal.
“I told you I’m 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.”
Ndume described his removal as an “act of God,” accepting it without resentment.
“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,” he explained.
“After all, I did not contest to be the chief whip. 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 what God has given to me.”
The lawmaker firmly defended his prior comments about the administration, asserting that he had done nothing wrong.
“I did not say anything wrong. And therefore I want to state that I stand by all my statements in the interview I granted,” Ndume insisted.
“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.”
Amid calls for his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ndume highlighted the need for consultation before making such a decision.
“So, I’m not a new member. I didn’t join APC just like that. It was in consultation with my people that I joined APC. I take his advice and I will get, I know, across to my people,” he stated.
Ndume’s unwavering stance and rejection of the Tourism Committee chairmanship underscore his commitment to his principles and the need for experience in sensitive roles within the Senate.