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Tag: Ali Ndume

  • Ndume steps up campaign for Senate President

    Senator Ali Ndume has stepped up his campaign for the position of Senate President in the Ninth Senate, despite the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan by the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)

    Ndume, who represents Borno South senatorial district, has rolled out a nine-point agenda in handbills he circulated in Abuja on Monday.

    One of the points in the agenda was a promise to improve upon the performance of the 8th Senate, stating that he will make the office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing unnecessary privileges attached to the office

    Also on his agenda is the independence of the legislature, operation of checks and balances and strict adherence to the principle of separation of powers.

    He added that he will prioritise and ensure the passage of the Constituency Development Bill, which will make constituency  projects more transparent, accountable, efficient and effective.

    Ndume also stated that if elected, he would mobilise other senators to agree on timeline for confirmation of nominees of Mr. President, passage of bills. The third-termer senator said with him in the saddle, the national budget would be passed within 90 days from the day of submission to the National Assembly.

    He pledged to make laws that will block leakages in the system; devise improved means of generating revenue, amendment and review of tax laws, and emphasis on reduction of reliance on local and foreign loans to finance budget.

    “To run the Ninth Senate transparency, through open accountability with full participation of all senators. For example, we will transfer the approving powers of the privileges of the senators like foreign travels, allowances to Senate Services Committee or a new committee to be known as Ways and Means  Committee”, the document added.

    Ndume concluded that the Senate under his leadership will uphold the governing party’s principles and policies, in addition to making laws and reviewing existing ones, to key into APC’s Next Level Agenda for the country.

     

    The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Borno South senatorial district in the 2019 general elections, Kudla Satumari popularly called Haskey by his supporters has asked one of the candidates for the position of Senate President in the 9th Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume to forget his ambition.

    Satumari said Ndume was not the right candidate for such a high leadership position, describing him as a self centred person who has contributed nothing to the upliftment of the people he is representing in the Senate, while accusing him of being part of the problem that rocked the outgoing Senate when he worked against his party in favour of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the PDP in 015

    Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Satumari also warned the All  Progressives Congress (APC) not to nominate Ali Ndume as senate president because he will reclaim his mandate at the Election Tribunal as the rightful elected senator for the senatorial district.

    He claimed that his victory at the polling units was upturned between the polling stations and collation centre where the results were rewritten in favour of Ndume, adding that no amount of pressure and persuasion can make him accept an out of court settlement, expressing confidence that the overwhelming evidences at his disposal are substantial enough to upturn the Ndume’s temporary victory at the Election Tribunal.

    “For the records, I contested Borno South senatorial district on the platform of the PDP. The immediate result of the election is not what is expected. I initially evaluated the outcome of the election to see what action to take, but I have overwhelming appeal from my people and even the contestants from other political parties that have supplied me with hard facts and evidences to prove substantial breach of electoral process.

    “The evidences have shown that I won the election but was upturned between the polling units and the collation centre. For us to deepen democracy and ensure that the process of election is abided by, I decided to take the case to the tribunal. It has been submitted and the papers served to all the respondents involved,” he said.

    According to him, if Ndume had won him fair and square; “I would have been among those campaigning for him to be the senate president because he is from my senatorial district and I believe that as senate president he could attract some interventions and developmental projects to our area.”

    “What people don’t know is that I have worked assiduously for him to become the senator in 2011. I was among those that worked hard to ensure that he won the election. I even named a primary school I built in area after him. The fight is not personal, but we should not reinforce failure”.

    On whether he will consider the option of an out of court settlement, he said: “Never. Out of court settlement is never an option. It is not about me but my people because the level of insecurity in my area has gotten to alarming stage. I doubt if we still have men to stand for the people.”

    Read also: PDP opponent to Ndume: you are not fit to be Senate President

    “Our problem is that nobody is bringing the issue to the centre stage. My over 80 year-old mother slept in the bush last week. It pains when the federal government claims Boko Haram has been degraded, yet the kind of insecurity we are experiencing on daily basis before, during and after the general elections has never been so under Goodluck Jonathan.

    “It was better under him because they can take control over a Local Government but the kind of hit and run we are having now and the seeming lack of concern or tangible effort made by the appropriate authority to curtail the attacks, make us to wonder if we are still part of this country.

    “That is why I will never accept any out of court settlement. Let the court decide and confirm his victory. I will appeal and if the Appeal Court still gives it to him, I will accept and leave for God. My life has been threatened and there has been nothing that has not been done.

    “There is nobody on this earth, including my mother, I cherish and respect so much that can prevail on me to step down for whatever consideration. I will never concede and even if lawyers refused to defend me, I will defend myself”.

     

  • PDP opponent to Ndume: you are not fit to be Senate President

    The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Borno South senatorial district in the 2019 general elections, Kudla Satumari popularly called Haskey has asked one of the candidates for the position of Senate President in the 9th Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume to forget his ambition.

    Satumari said Ndume is not the right candidate for such a high leadership position, describing him as a self- centred person who has contributed nothing to the development of his constituents.

    He accused Ndume of working against his party in favour of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the PDP in 015

    Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Satumari also warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to nominate Ali Ndume as Senate President because he will reclaim his mandate at the Election Tribunal.

    He alleged his victory at the polling units was upturned between the polling stations and collation centre where the results were rewritten in favour of Ndume.

    Read Also: Ndume joins Senate Presidency race

    He said: “What people don’t know is that I have worked assiduously for him to become the senator in 2011.

    “I was among those that worked hard to ensure that he won the election. I even named a primary school I built in area after him. The fight is not personal but we should not reinforce failure”.

    On whether he will consider the option of an out- of- court settlement, he said: “Never. Out of court settlement is never an option.

    “It is not about me but my people because the level of insecurity in my area has gotten to alarming stage. I doubt if we still have men to stand for the people.”

    He went on: “Our problem is that nobody is bringing the issue to the centre stage. My over 80 year-old mother slept in the bush last week.

    “It pains when the federal government claims Boko Haram has been degraded yet the kind of insecurity we are experiencing on daily basis before, during and after the general elections has never been so under Goodluck Jonathan.

    “It was better under him because they can take control over a Local Government but the kind of hit- and- run we are having now and the seeming lack of concern or tangible effort made by the appropriate authority to curtail the attacks, make us to wonder if we are still part of this country.

    “That is why I will never accept any out of court settlement. Let the court decide and confirm his victory.

    “I will appeal and if the Appeal Court still gives it to him, I will accept and leave for God.

    “My life has been threatened and there has been nothing that has not been done.

    “There is nobody on this earth, including my mother, I cherish and respect so much that can prevail on me to step down for whatever consideration.

    “I will never concede and even if lawyers refused to defend me, I will defend myself”.

     

     

  • Ndume joins Senate Presidency race

    A former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Monday announced his intention to run for the office of the President of the Senate of the ninth National Assembly.

    Ndume is already seeking the blessing of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the position.

    The Borno South Senator is the second aspirant from the North East geo-political zone to declare his interest for the exalted position.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan was the first to signify interest to run for the Senate President when the ninth Senate is inaugurated in June.

    Ndume noted he is throwing his hat into the ring believing that the Senate President position would be zoned to the North East geo-political zone where he hails from.

    The former senate leader, in a letter of intent dated March 25, 2019 and addressed to the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the decision to seek election into the exalted office was borne out of his desire to help accelerate socioeconomic development of the nation.

    “Following the successful conduct of the 2019 general election and the overwhelming victory of our great party the APC at all levels, I hereby forward my letter of intent to contest for the office of the President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly.

    “I wish to emphasise that my decision to contest for the Senate Presidency is informed by my conviction to contribute my quota to nation building,” the letter stated.

    Ndume, who served as minority leader in the sixth House of Representatives and majority leader in the 8th Senate, assured of his capacity to deliver on party policies and programmes.

    He said: “My vast legislative experience and my deep desire to take Nigeria to the next level of development” are reasons for contesting.

  • Why APC got high number of votes in North-East – Ndume

    Sen. Ali Ndume, (APC-Borno South) says the relative peace in the North East contributed to the high number of votes President Muhammadu Buhari got in the area in Saturday’s presidential election.

    Ndume, stated this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after a visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said, however, that he had a higher expectation than what the party got in the North East.

    The North East Director of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council said the postponement of the election negatively affected the turnout of voters in the area.

    “First of all, let me say that in 2015, we delivered close to half a million votes for the president in Borno; giving him up 95 per cent.

    “I was thinking that we were going to improve on that; I was looking at 97 per cent and this time around, we had 836, 496; it is okay;  but I was expecting much more than that to be frank.

    “The postponement actually contributed in the reduction in turnout; so I was surprised when the PDP presidential candidate was talking about Borno.

    Read Also:  APC candidate rejects Ikpoba-Okha/Egor results

    “Last time, in Borno, we gave the president half a million; this time around we gave over 800; because we have more relative peace; in 2015, most of us were scattered all over the country, even outside as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    “This time around I was able to go and vote in my Local Government Area (LGA); I slept in my area; the last time, in 2015, we held our election in IDP camps and turn out that number of vote; this time around we went home to vote with our people and turn out the number,’’he said.

    Ndume expressed optimism that the turnout of voters would be higher in the governorship election in Borno as APC would win with a landslide.

    The former Senate leader said APC already has 64 APC Senators and is still hoping for more, adding that the party would not repeat its previous mistake in the Senate.

    “When you make a mistake, you use that mistake to improve the future; we are going to have a very good 9th assembly by God’s grace.

    “This time, the party will play its role; we have learnt from the mistake we made last time; we are not going to repeat that mistake,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • 8th Senate worst in attendance – Ndume

    Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday described the 8th Senate as the worst he had seen in terms of attendance at plenary.

    Speaking as special guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, Ndume blamed the situation on “bad leadership’’ in the upper legislative chamber.

    Legislative activities in the National Assembly have been at a low ebb since the different political parties held their primaries in October.

    This is so, according to political watchers, because many of the lawmakers failed to secure their parties’ tickets either for re-election or for other public offices.

    Since resumption from the extended annual recess on Oct. 9, the Senate has adjourned plenary twice: first for two weeks on Oct. 24 to pave way for “oversight duties”.

    On Nov. 13, the senators adjourned plenary for one week after failing to form quorum, a situation they blamed on continuation of oversight duties by most of the absentees.

    The tempo is expected to take a further dip with the commencement of the campaigns ahead of the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections billed for February.

    However, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, assured Nigerians on Monday that the campaigns would not affect the passage of bills and other legislative duties in the Assembly.

    In a statement his Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr Chuks Okocha, in Abuja, Saraki said the lawmakers were concerned and would through on the key bills.

    Ndume said although it was normal for attendance to drop during election periods, it had never been that bad since he joined the National Assembly as a House of Representatives member in 2003.

    “The 8th Senate is the worst I have seen in terms of attendance, and it is because of the bad leadership of Saraki.

    “This is the first time we had to adjourn the Senate for lack of quorum.

    “Since I came to the National Assembly, two terms in the House of Representatives, and two terms now in the Senate, it had never been like this.

    “So, I was shocked that dahy (Nov. 13). I came a bit late, and when I entered the chambers, I was told we had adjourned because there was no quorum, and that only 14 people or there about turned up.

    “It’s just terrible,’’ lamented the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, who is seeking a third term in the Senate.(NAN)

  • PDP introduced vote-buying – Sen. Ndume

     

    The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has accused the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of introducing vote-buying into the Nigeria’s electoral system.

    Ndume, who said this in Abuja was reacting to the allegation that the President Muhammadu Buhjari-led administration was using its Special Investment Programmes, including TradeMoni, to buy the electorate over.

    The lawmaker alleged that the party’s current presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, emerged through vote-buying.

    “First of all, during the presentation of “Next Level’’ on Monday, this allegation was categorically denied, and we said if there is such evidence, whoever is involved should be reported to the appropriate authority.

    “Having said that, let me note that it is the PDP, and you can quote me on this, that introduced voted buying.

    “Even now, they are concentrating on buying votes, not on campaigning to genuinely win election. So, I don’t know where this accusation is coming from.

    “The PDP presidential candidate emerged by buying the votes, in dollars not even in naira.

    “It is on record and everybody knows that even the presidential candidacy of PDP is purchased.’’

    Read Also: Oyo PDP candidate ‘sure of victory’

    Ndume said the same could not be said of the emergence of Buhari as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 presidential election.

    He said that the President did not even ask anyone to step down for him during the recent primaries of the party, let alone buy delegates over.

    “I hereby challenge any Nigerian to come out and say that Buhari even asked anyone to step down for him. He only offered himself to contest, and everybody queued behind him.

    “So, when they allege that APC is buying votes, I just laugh.

    “Do you know why PDP is contesting? It is because they think they can buy Nigerians, and Nigerians are not for sale.

    “Nobody can say that President Muhammadu Buhari, either directly or indirectly, is condoning vote buying.’’

    The senator, however, noted that the influence of money could not be ruled out of Nigerian politics as was the case even in advanced democracies such as the United States and others.

    He said one of the reasons former U.S. President Barack Obama defeated Hilary Clinton in the Democratic Party’s primaries in 2008 was because he had more money.

    Ndume stressed that money also played a major role in Obama’s victory in the general elections.

    NAN

  • Ndume renews call for power rotation in Borno

    Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has renewed his call for Borno South Senatorial District to be allowed to produce the next governor of the state.

    Ndume made the call when he appeared as a guest on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Sunday.

    The lawmaker, who represents Borno South in the Senate, noted that in the interest of fairness, equity and natural justice, it was proper for someone from his constituency to be allowed to serve the state as governor.

    “It is feasible if there is an agreement, and that is what I have been advocating for, I am part of the advocacy for power rotation.

    “But let me say that when I was the Senate leader, I made sure that power rotation was included in the Constitution Amendment Bill.

    “Unfortunately, it did not see the light of the day because the majority had their way. But we have started the struggle. It is not something that is realisable in a day.’’

    Ndume identified lack of unity and understanding among the minorities in the district as the major challenge undermining their aspiration.

    He, however, said he had seen some improvement as the people of southern Borno had become more united than before.

    “We are giving it a shot, because out of the 23 or 24 contestants for the gubernatorial election, we have about three or four people from southern Borno, this time around.

    “Although it is still a small number if you look at it, but we are hoping we will get there one day,’’ he said.

  • No faction in APC state chapters – Ndume

    Senator Ali Ndume, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not factionalized in any of its state chapters as is being reported.

    Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, said this on Sunday in Abuja, adding that the party was at peace and united across the federation.

    He, however, admitted that the party might be having crisis in some of its state chapters, which he said, was normal in every political setting and even among families.

    “I do not think the party is factionalized in some of its state chapters as is being report.

    “Yes, there are crisis in some state chapters, there is no doubt about that, but there is crisis everywhere, there is crisis every time, even in homes and families.

    “It is normal, sometimes you have quarrel with your wife or one of your children there is crisis.

    “If your wife refuses to talk to you or decide not to even cook for you, that does not mean you have a faction in your house.” he said.

    He maintained that it was normal, especially when interest came to bear at this critical time when politicians were looking for tickets to stand for elective positions in 2019.

    Ndume added that naturally, in such a situation, there would be crisis, but stressed that the party`s leadership had the capability to address any crisis that came upon it.

    Read Also: Drama as Ndume resumes

    He said the APC had the capacity and internal mechanism to get over any crisis that confronted it.

    Citing the alleged crisis in Taraba and other state chapters of the party, Ndume said; “we will get over it.

    “It is just that we are in the storming period now, where we are about to land and it is natural, but is not like we have faction.“

    He expressed confidence in the leadership of Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman, saying that he had the ability to move the party forward.

    He said Oshiomhole was committed and doing well, and putting all his energy into running the party.

    “But of course, he is a human being, and when you have a unionist running a democratic institution or a party like the APC, then, there is a problem of balance between unionism and politics.

    “That is one of the problems he is facing, and you know the Adams nature again, the union people, it is like every union leader normally is somebody that is extrovert, that talks much, that is it, but I think he is doing well,“ Ndume said.

    On the gale of recent defections, the Senator said it was unfortunate that the Nigerian political foundation was not built on political ideology which was supposed to be the first and the most important thing.

    He noted that from 1979 to 1983, we had politics that had some kind of ideology, saying that while the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was known to be some kind of conservative or capitalist, other parties were known to be more of a socialist.

    Ndume said among this was the defunct People’s Redemption Party (PRP) known to be more of a socialist party, adding that these days, political parties were just more of a platform.

    He, however, added that it was only now that the APC was trying to move itself towards government of socialism or to progressive government as the name implied.

    “And as you can see now, the PDP is moving towards the ideology of capitalism or conservative people, this is happening a bit naturally, but this is supposed to be the first thing.

    “The party is supposed to be set or based on ideology, that is why in all the parties, you do not hear anybody talking about manifesto or  ideology, because they are not there in the first place.

    “And therefore, cannot be referred to or deferred to in what the parties are doing,” Ndume said.

    This, he said, was the reason most political parties, especially opposition parties, were playing trivial opposition and waiting for the party in government to do something that they could debate and lash on.

    He, however, maintained that the only thing that was supposed to drive the democratic process was credible opposition which according to him, is presently lacking.

    “The PDP is trying to play that role, but they have issues of credibility, they are opposing, but they lack credibility to be opposition or a minority party so to say,“ he said.

    NAN

     

  • War against Boko Haram is winnable, says Ndume

    …Praises Army for relocating base to Gudumbali

     

    A former Senate Leader, Sen. Ali Ndume on Thursday said the war against Boko Haram is winnable at the rate at which the military is going.

    He also praised the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai for relocating the operational headquarters of the Nigerian Army to Gudumbali in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.

    He advised the military to sustain its campaign to take the battle to the insurgents on Mandara Mountains where Boko Haram members are hiding.

    Ndume, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, pleaded with the people of Borno State not to panic.

    He said: “So far, I believe the war against Boko Haram is winnable by Nigerian military. The troops have adopted the strategy of taking the battle to the insurgents and with this development; the war will soon be over.

    “If the military can sustain the offensive, they can win the war within a short time.
    He said there were indications that the “ insurgents are trapped in Mandara Mountains from where they sneaked out in the afternoon and night to look for maize and other foodstuffs from innocent villagers.

    “The troops should continue to do their best to fish them out on Mandara Mountains.”
    Ndume commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai for relocating the operational headquarters of the Nigerian Army to Gudumbali

    He added: “The prompt response to the attack on Gudumbali and the repelling of the insurgents by the military have shown that we are capable of overcoming the Boko Haram insurgency
    “It is heartwarming that the Nigerian Army has also relocated its operational headquarters to Gudumbali in response to the escalation of attacks by the insurgents.
    “We are hoping that other security agencies will emulate and cooperate with the Nigerian Army in order to bring this issue of insurgency to an end.”

    He pleaded with the people of Borno State to assist the military with intelligence and other information to win the war against insurgency.

    “My advice to our people is not to panic and cooperate with the Nigerian Army in order to get the necessary information to curtail Boko Haram insurgents.”

  • Senator hails introduction of ‘Not too young to run’ law

    Senator Ali Ndume on Friday urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ law and participate fully in the country’s political arena.

    He made the call while speaking with State House correspondents, after observing the Jumma’at prayer at the Aso Villa mosque.

    According to him, the signing of the bill into law was a great achievement by the Buhari administration.

    He said “I want to congratulate the Nigerian youth because I am one of the advocates for the ‘Not too young to run bill,’ which we supported very well at the National Assembly level. Just as nobody is too old to run, we feel that nobody should be too young to run either.

    “So this is a very commendable thing that the President has done. Now the door is opened for the youth to have the opportunity to contest. This is another very positive development in the maturity of democracy in Nigeria and I want the youth to take advantage of that to give in their best to see that we have an improved democracy with vibrant youths in the system,” he said.

    Read Also: Details of Not Too Young To Run Bill

    He advocated for more synergy between the three arms of government, stressing that they should be interdependent, not independent.

    He said: “The wrong thing that we got ab-initio is the fact that the three arms of government are technically viewed as independent instead of being interdependent. In the developed democracies that we are copying, for example in America, the Vice President is the Senate President right now as we speak.

    “So there is supposed to be synergy, support and cooperation within the three arms of government and to be honest that has not been the case in the past three years it has been very bumpy and that was unnecessary.”

    The Senator also said that the 8th National Assembly has not been as smooth as expected.

    “The 8th National Assembly has not been smooth and has not been working closely with the executive but I don’t want to put all the blames on the executive alone because it takes two to tango.

    “So that is my own personal view about what is going on. The relationship has not been what it’s supposed to be especially where we ( the governing party) have the majority in the National assembly, the relationship is supposed to be smoother than it is,” he stated.