Ndume’s Removal As Senate Whip, Good Riddance, Says TDF

The Democratic Front (TDF) praised Senator Ali Ndume’s removal as Senate Chief Whip, describing the move as decisive, firm, and resolute.
Senator Ndume was removed from the ranks of the Senate’s Principal Officers after making disparaging remarks about President Bola Tinubu and his administration.

In a statement signed by Chairman Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Chief Wale Adedayo, the group praised the All Progressives Congress (APC) for successfully removing Ndume as Senate Whip.

The statement reads in part, “The TDF has noticed with dismay the series of negative, biassed, and tainted criticisms that Senator Ali Ndume, who represents the Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate, has levelled against his colleagues, Mr President’s team, and President Bola Tinubu himself.

Senator Ndume has launched several tirades against the federal government, of which he is a member, beginning with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to relocate a department where his daughter works to Lagos.

“We recall that the controversial former Senate Chief Whip made careless remarks and insinuations that could have caused political uproar when the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and a few CBN staff were transferred to Lagos in an effort to reduce governance costs and ease protocol of engagement with private sector players in the country’s commercial capital.

“At the time, he was known to have stated that there would be “political consequences” for the movement, but as inciting as the statement was, it was ignored by the party and the Senate.

“So we were shocked and alarmed when Ndume recently described President Bola Tinubu’s government as a ‘kakistocracy, government by the most clueless people in the society,’ and for us, it was a derogatory remark as well as the culmination of a serial act of incivility by a member of the ruling party and the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate.

“We strongly believe that Ndume’s impolite, offensive, and confrontational approach to important national issues, combined with his characteristic flip-flop on previous views, can be compared to that of a person who lacks the mental, emotional, and intellectual ability to weigh issues properly.

“In terms of competence and merit, Ndume appears to be no better qualified than Senator Tahir Monguno, who succeeded him as Chief Whip, so we applaud the Senate leadership’s decision.

“We also commend the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership for making a prompt and informed decision to save the party from the embarrassment of a disloyal member, by requesting Ndume’s removal and immediate replacement as Senate Whip.

“We believe the party must take decisive action to instill discipline and loyalty in its card-carrying members. To that end, we urge APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to take further action against Senator Ndume in order to send a clear message to the party’s members.

“Senator Ndume has exhibited every trait of a disloyal Party member, and it will be a disservice to the Party if its leadership continues to harbour a potential traitor within its fold.”

The group also urged the new Senate Chief Whip to resist Ndume’s self-serving path and instead act as a good ambassador for the ruling party in the Senate.