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Tag: Mohammed Ali Ndume

  • Ndume hails Tinubu, Zulum for resettling terror attack victims

    Ndume hails Tinubu, Zulum for resettling terror attack victims

    Former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum over recent relocation and resettlement of victims of Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists’ attacks who were hitherto displaced and living in Cameroon.

    The Nation learnt that there is a tripartite agreement between the Borno State government, the Federal government, and its Cameroonian counterpart in conjunction with the United Nations Humanitarian High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to facilitate voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Cameroon, many of whom are from Borno State.

    The agreement, which was signed in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital, dates back to 2017. The then Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd.), led a high-level Nigerian delegation, which included then Borno State governor and now Vice President Kashim Shettima to the neighbouring country.

    The agreement ensures the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of Nigerian refugees who fled from terror attacks to Cameroon’s Minawao camp and other areas back to Nigeria.

    Read Also: Ndume explains role in ambassadorial screening, says Senate will brief Tinubu on gaps

    The Nation also learnt that Governor Zulum had, in partnership with the Federal Government and the UNHCR, sped up the repatriation process, especially for the thousands of Borno indigenes in Cameroon.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Ndume, who is representing Borno South, hailed the Tinubu administration and the Borno State government for keeping faith with the programme, which has enabled many indigenes of Borno State to be relocated back to the Northeast state.

    He said: “I want to commend the Federal Government because the tripartite agreement between it, the Borno State Government, the Government of Cameroon and the UNHCR has ensured the repatriation, resettlement and relocation of Nigerian refugees in Minawao in Cameroon back to Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

    “I commend the Federal Government for the initiative of resettling the people and the active participation of the Borno State government for the resettlement after over 10 years in Cameroon.

    “I also want to commend the resettling of the people of Wala village in Gwoza Local Government.”

    The former Senate Chief Whip also thanked Governor Zulum for fulfilling his promise to restore electricity to Gwoza Local Government Area, which he noted had been without power supply for over 10 years as a result of the destruction of power facilities by the Boko Haram terror group.

    “The effort of Governor Zulum in restoring electricity in Gwoza is commendable. We have been without light for over 10 years.

    “The Borno State governor made a promise last year during the installation of the Emir of Bama, and he has kept the promise.”

  • Ndume explains role in ambassadorial screening

    Ndume explains role in ambassadorial screening

    • ‘Senate will brief Tinubu on gaps’

    A former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has explained why he participated in the screening of ambassadorial nominees despite earlier urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the list over alleged lopsidedness.

    Ndume, who is also a former Senate Chief Whip, had faulted the list forwarded to the Senate penultimate week, arguing that it violated Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which emphaises adherence to the federal character principle in appointments.

    Addressing reporters yesterday, the Borno South senator said he was persuaded by his colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee to participate in the screening and confirmation.

    The former Senate Leader announced that he was assured that the Senate’s concerns over the imbalance in the composition of the nominees would be clearly captured in the committee’s report to be transmitted to President Tinubu.

    “I still maintain that the list is lopsided,” Ndume said. “At the committee level, I raised a constitutional order, and we agreed to proceed with the screening. But in our report, we will advise the President that the composition of the remaining nominees should be balanced to address the breach of the federal character principle, as enshrined in the Constitution.”

    Read Also: Tunji-Ojo: Nigeria’s future depends on unity, national renewal

    The Borno South senator stressed that states sidelined in the current nominations should be accommodated in the final list to be sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

    According to him, Nigeria has 109 foreign missions, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates.

    Ndume said these positions provide enough room to ensure fair representation of all the states.

    “For non-career ambassadors, each state should have at least one to balance the system. This is because states like Gombe and Yobe were not captured at all, while some states have only career ambassadors, who are essentially non-political appointees,” he said.

    The former Senate Leader added that each state could have two or three ambassadors, combining career and non-career postings, stressing that such an arrangement would address concerns of imbalance and constitutional breach.

    “We have 194 countries in the world, and with 109 missions, it is possible to ensure equity. This will correct the lopsidedness and uphold Section 14(3) of the Constitution,” he said.

  • Ndume hails Army over teenage girls’ rescue

    Ndume hails Army over teenage girls’ rescue

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, yesterday praised the Nigerian Army for rescuing the 12 teenage girls abducted by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Mussa District of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Borno State.

    The victims aged between 15 and 20, were kidnapped last Sunday while harvesting crops on their family farmlands.

    A statement by the Nigerian Army said the victims who were freed on Saturday, sequel to swift, intelligence-led operation by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the southern Borno axis, were evacuated to a secure facility for comprehensive medical care.

    Read Also: Tinubu, First Lady, Shetimma, hail PFN at 40

    In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, commended the gallantry and swift response of military officers in Borno, whose operation ensured the rescue of the girls.

    “That successful operation was another significant statement on professionalism and selflessness. I will continue to appeal to the sense of patriotism of men of the Nigerian Army to remain determined to destroy evil forces, driven by vain glorification to cower the rest of us,” Ndume said.

    He restated his call on the Federal Government to give priority to adequate funding of the military and review their remuneration in order to boost their morale.

  • My father, mentor is gone, says Ndume

    My father, mentor is gone, says Ndume

    Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume described the death of Buhari as a personal loss and that he was a father and mentor.

    He said:  “The late President was a man I held in the highest regard — not merely as a statesman, but as a father figure and mentor whose simplicity, integrity, and commitment to national service deeply inspired me.

    “Our bond was one built on mutual respect, sincerity, and fond familiarity. Those who witnessed our interactions often mistook me for a Kanuri man, as we frequently exchanged playful banter drawn from Fulani-Kanuri cultural traditions.

    Read Also: Buhari sacrificed his life for Nigeria’s unity, says Sanwo-Olu

    “In President Buhari, I have lost not just a leader, but a personal pillar, a man who believed in my potential and encouraged me at critical points in my journey.

    “The last time we met was in his hometown of Daura, where I paid him homage. His warmth, humour, and wise counsel remain etched in my memory.

    “Nigeria has lost a rare patriot; I have lost a father.”

  • Why EFCC quizzed National Assembly clerk

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogated Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, following a petition by Legislatives Aides, it was learnt on Sunday.

    Findings showed that some Legislative Aides petitioned the Presidency over “outstanding claims and allowances” the National Assembly allegedly refused to pay them.

    A reliable source said that the petition was written against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, for their “inability to prevail on the management of the National Assembly to settle the outstanding claims.”

    The Presidency was said to have referred the petition to the EFCC for appropriate action.

    The source said that “the National Assembly Clerk may have been invited by the EFCC as “the accounting officer” to clear the air on the issues raised by the Legislative Aides, among other sundry matters on financial dealings.”

    Apart from the outstanding allowances of the Legislative Aides, he said that the voting method for the election of the presiding officers of the ninth National Assembly was “another contentious issue the EFCC dived into with the Clerk.”

    The EFCC, he said, “demanded to know the voting method the Clerk intended to use for the election of presiding officers, whether open or secret ballot.”

    According to him, “the voting method to be adopted for the election of the presiding officers of the 9th assembly is actually creating tension in the National Assembly.”

    He noted that while some senators and House of Representatives members were rooting for open ballot as was used in 2011, others favour secret ballot as was the case in 2015.

    Findings showed that the two sides may disrupt the election of presiding officers on June 11 if the voting pattern did not go their way.

    It was also gathered that Senate and House of Representatives Rule Book had already been circulated to all senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect during their induction programme last month.

    While the 2011 Senate Rule Book made provision for open ballot, the contentious 2015 version provided for secret ballot.

    The source who would not say the interest of EFCC in the voting method for the election of the presiding officers, simply laughed and said “we are talking about the election of the number three citizen of this country, it is a subject of interest to political leaders.”

    He noted that the front runners for the Senate President, Senators Ahmed Lawan, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Mohammed Danjuma Goje were “sharply divided over whether to adopt open or secret voting method for the election of presiding officers.”

    According to him, while the Lawan camp is pushing for open ballot, the Ndume and Goje camps are insisting on secret ballot.”

    He said, “There may be a show down and clash which may lead to the disruption of the election of the presiding officers. The two sides are maintaining their positions.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Kwara Assembly member-elect

    “Nobody can say how it will end because the scenario is still unfolding but there is fear of unpleasant scene that will be totally unparliamentary and uncalled for.”

    The EFCC quizzed Sani-Omolori last Tuesday over issues relating to the financial dealings in the National Assembly for about six hours.

    The interrogation of the clerk was said to have lasted from about 11am to 5pm when Omolori was allowed to go home.

    The source noted that apart from the initial questions on records of financial dealings of the National Assembly, Omolori was also asked questions on the method of election of the presiding officers of the ninth National Assembly.

    Omolori was said to have “duly cooperated with the EFCC officers.”

    Contacted, a source in the EFCC confirmed Omolori’s interrogation by the anti-crime agency.

    The source who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said that Omolori visited the commission on Tuesday.

    Findings should that Omolori’s international passport was taken from him by EFCC operatives.

    It was gathered that other key officials of the National Assembly including the Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the House of Representatives as well as their deputies may be invited by the EFCC for questioning.

  • Senate Presidency: Ndume, Goje risk expulsion from APC

    If the All Progressives Congress (APC) adopts the suggestion of Senator Abu Ibrahim, Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Mohammed Danjuma Goje, may be expelled from the party if they go against the decision of the party on the election of Senate president.

    Although Ibrahim did not mention Ndume and Goje, the Katsina South senator told reporters in Abuja that any member of the APC who dares the party’s decision and connives with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to truncate the decision of the party on who becomes Senate President will be expelled from the party.

    While Ndume has declared his intention to contest the position of Senate President in defiance of APC’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan as the preferred candidate of the party, Goje is yet to publicly declare his intention.

    The Gombe Central Senator’s body language however gives him out as nursing the ambition to throw his hat into the ring for the exalted position.

    Ibrahim who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity noted that in democracy, once any one chooses a party, “you must abide by the rules of that party at all times or else you leave.”

    For him, there will be no need for individuals who disobey the party decision to remain in the party because “that is an act of indiscipline which no party should condone.”

    He noted that as a matter of fact, if the party gives a ticket to an individual and he is assisted with resources to contest and win election, the person must naturally obey the rules of the party at all times.

    Ibrahim said, “First of all, we have to remind ourselves that it is a political party which gives an individual the ticket to participate in an election. Once such a ticket is given, it is the caucus of the party in the National Assembly that will determine the emergence of candidate that eventually becomes the leader of the Senate through voting.  “

    “Specifically, the party decides which zone should produce candidate for the position and when such decision is taken every member must abide by that decision. No one can come out of caucus meeting’s voting to say he would not accept the decision of the party on such election process.

    “As a loyal party member anyone who dares the party’s decision and come out to connive with PDP to truncate the decision of the party will be expelled from the party.

    Read Also: Senate presidency: Youths march for Goje

    “As a matter of fact, if the party gives a ticket to an individual and he/she is assisted with resources to contest and win election, the person must naturally obey the rules of the party at all times.

    “In democracy, once you choose a party, you must abide by the rules of that party at all times or else you leave. There will be no need for individuals who disobey the party decision and remain in such a party.   That is an act of indiscipline which no party should condone.”

    Asked if APC can reach out to PDP Senators to seek support for its candidate he said: “You see, there is no need to reach out to the opposition minority members because APC, as a party, has a clear majority to decide straight away who should become Senate President.

    “PDP, as a party, played this game for the whole sixteen years when it was in power between 1999 and 2015.  All the PDP members, who are now talking today, including Senators Abaribe, James Manager, Ekweremadu and the likes, know the rules of this game.

    “It is sheer mischief, greed and a great insult for any PDP member to now claim that every member in the National Assembly has a right to contest. This is not done anywhere in the world. Not in U.K, U.S.A or anywhere else.

    “David Mark was Senate President between 2007 and 2015 when his party was in power and the majority party in Senate, nobody from the opposition parties contested along with him. “Now he thinks numerical strength does not matter again but it did when he was the Senate President. What an absurdity.

    “The leadership of the National Assembly now belongs exclusively to APC in the two chambers because the party has a clear majority and does not have to consult the opposition members in order to pick its principal officers. It is never done anywhere in the world and it will not be done this time around.

    “The minority leadership in the National Assembly is there for the PDP to choose their leaders. No one is interfering with them in choosing their leadership.

    “No one from APC will go there and contest to be a member, so why should anyone from PDP want to contest for majority leadership position?   Well, it happened the last time in 2015 when Senator Ekweremadu contested the position of the deputy Senate President. He clearly undermined the APC in that exercise but this time around no one can try that and succeed.

     

  • Senate Presidency: ‘we’re well consulted before endorsement of Lawan’

    The last may not have been heard of the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The spokesperson for “Ahmed Lawan for Senate President Group of Senators, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, told reporters in Abuja on Wednesday that APC senators-elect were carried along in the adoption of Lawan for Senate President.

    This is contrary to the position of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume who claimed the announcement of the adoption of Lawan by the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, surprised APC Senators-elect, who attended a dinner meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Although Abdullahi did not mention Ndume, he was categorical that “it is not good for somebody to peddle lies.”

    He added that when Oshiomhole announced the adoption of Lawan as the party’s choice for the Senate President of the ninth Senate, the party chairman spoke in the presence of some governors including those of Oyo, Kebbi and Borno States.

    Read also: We won’t challenge Kano rerun elections, says CUPP

    Abdullahi, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said Oshiomhole appealed to them to support Lawan to avoid the mistake of the past.

    “Immediately he said that, there was instantaneous and spontaneous applause by senators who were there.

    “For somebody to say there was surprise and shock following the announcement, he was economical with the truth. There was no shock, rather there was relief,” Abdullahi said.

    Abdullahi, who said the APC has learnt its lesson from the mistake of 2015 when Bukola Saraki emerged Senate President against the directive of the party, assured that there would be no such crisis this time around.

    He said that there was no clear directive by the party in 2015 leading senators to go their different ways in the chamber.

    The APC, he said, has a great role to play in who emerges the Senate President.

    According to him: “If the party has promised Nigerians good governance, it is only fair and proper for the party to play some role to deliver that good governance. For me, we have learnt our lessons from whatever happened in 2015.

    “Even when I’m walking on the street people say please you people should make sure you learn from your past mistake. As far as I’m concerned, we have unity of purpose.

    “We the Senators-elect, we have made a choice. We have the right to say this is who we want. Our choice is Ahmed Lawan.

    “Do you expect that Mr. President and the party should abdicate their responsibility? This is what they accused us of in 2015. Now they have spoken, why are you complaining.”

    He insisted the announcement by Oshiomhole should have been enough for a genuine party loyalist to abandon his ambition and toe the line of the party.

    Abdullahi said that there was no doubt that Nigerians would be the best for the emergence of Lawan.

    “It is not good for you to have bills that are not assented to,” he asked.

    He said that on the day of inauguration of the ninth Senate in June, by the grace of God, Ahmed Lawan will be Senate President.

  • Ndume joins race for Senate President

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

    Ndume is 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 Northeast to declare his interest for the position.

    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan was the first to signify his interest.  The ninth  Senate is expected to be inaugurated in June.

    Read also: ‘Why I want to be Speaker’

    Ndume noted that he is throwing his hat into the ring believing that the position would be zoned to the Northeast where he hails from.

    The former Senate leader, in a letter of intent dated March 25,  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 the nation’s socio-economic development.

    “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 spoke of his capacity to deliver on party policies and programmes, adding, “my vast legislative experience and my deep desire to take Nigeria to the next level of development” are reasons for contesting.

  • Ndume: PDP NASS leaders slowing down 2019 budget

    Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume on Wednesday said the leadership of the National Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is deliberately slowing down the consideration and passage of the 2019 budget.

    Ndume also contended the delay by the Senate to commence debate of the general principles of the N8.83trillion Appropriation Bill should have started if the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators were in charge of the leadership of the upper chamber.

    The Borno South Senator insisted that as far as APC senators were concerned, the 2019 budget can be considered within a week and passed.

    He said it appeared the National Assembly under the leadership of PDP lawmakers was not interested in the consideration of the fiscal proposals.

    Ndume said: “Though lawmakers on the platform of APC are more in number than their counterparts in PDP but since the PDP lawmakers are controlling the leadership of both chambers, the speed at which any executive bill, particularly the 2019 Appropriation Bill before us now will take, lies with them.

    “Those of us in the APC at both chambers have the passion and the will to effect expeditious consideration and passage of the 2019 budget proposals but the required speed for that lies with the leadership, topmost of whom are PDP members.”

    Told the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan or the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’ Allah who should move a motion to kick- start debate on general principles of the budget were not in the chamber on Tuesday and Wednesday, Ndume insisted the speed for any legislative action on the budget lies with the two presiding officers and principal officers.

    Ndume commended the House of Representatives for starting debate on general principles of the budget yesterday.

    The action in the House, he said, will propel legislative business in the Senate.

    He noted the required expeditious consideration expected to be given the 2019 Appropriation Bill, should also be extended to the new minimum wage bill when it is presented.

    Workers, Ndume said, deserve living and not just minimum wage.

    He said giving Nigerian workers a living wage is the view of many of the other Senators.

    Ndume added that the North East where PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar comes from, President Muhammadu Buhari will win 95percent of votes during the presidential election.

    Read Also: 2019 Budget: Reps for Second Reading Thursday

    He said: “The difference is clear between the two of them as far as popularity and acceptability are concerned going by crowds attending their rallies.

    “Buhari has already won the election going by the mammoth crowds being pulled by him even in North East more than Atiku .

    “Besides, to us in the North East, PDP is poisonous which cannot be embraced in anyway by the teeming populace.”

     

     

  • Invasion: National Assembly panel summons Omo-Agege, Ndume

    … To face panel Wednesday over alleged complicity in mace theft saga

     

    The Senate and House of Representatives joint committee on the investigation of the April 18, 2018, invasion of Senate chamber Tuesday invited a former Senate leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to explain their alleged roles in the incident.

    Ndume and Omo-Agege are to answer questions on allegation of aiding the invaders to force their way into the Senate chamber to snatch the mace.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, issued the invitation at the committee’s meeting Tuesday.

    The invitation was said to have been sequel to testimonies by heads of different security agencies within the National Assembly alleging that “Omo-Agege led seven unauthorised persons into the Senate to steal the mace.”

    The action of the chamber invaders was said to have “disrupted plenary.”

    Findings also showed that Ndume was alleged to have prevented Sergeant At Arms who keeps the Mace, from taking it away to safety.

    The invitation letter to read in part:

    “Based on the testimony of the Sergeant At Arms before the committee, you (Mr. Ndume) are alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety.

    “The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation.

    The committee’s invitation to Omo-Agege said, “Based on the testimony of the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the DSS and the Sergeant at Arms, you are alleged to have entered the National Assembly accompanied by seven persons who allegedly took the mace of the Senate during plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 a.m.

    Read Also: Saraki inaugurates panel to probe invasion of chamber

    “All those who testified, stated that the said people were cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation that they were with you.

    “The committee, in pursuance of this, has deemed it necessary to formally invite you to respond to these allegations on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am,”

    The National Assembly Divisional Police Officer, Sulu-Gambari Abdul, had accused the Ndume and Omo-Agege of conspiring with thugs who invaded the Senate chamber and took away the mace on April 18, 2018

    Sulu-Gambari noted that the Senate invasion was an act of internal conspiracy among some security agencies and some lawmakers, confirming allegation of complicity of security agencies in the invasion.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who inaugurating the joint ad hoc committee of the National Assembly to investigate the invasion of the Senate chamber and snatching of the mace by suspected thugs last week noted that the attackers had violated the liberty of the people who the National Assembly represent.

    Saraki had said, “The events of the 18th of April, 2018, will go down as one of the darkest days of our democracy. The precincts of the National Assembly is not just a place where the National Assembly meets, it is the symbol of our liberty and freedom from autocracy and the base of our democracy.

    “This should not happen. It should never have happened. The violation of this solemn place, the symbol of our liberty to have a government by the representatives of our people for our people, by a group of mobsters and criminals cannot simply be ignored.

    “It has been inferred in many quarters that this group of thugs and urchins were led by a serving distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (this) is most despicable and unspeakable.”

    Meanwhile Senator Omo-Agege failed to resume plenary Tuesday as widely reported.

    The Delta Central lawmaker was reported to have said that he would resume plenary Tuesday following a court ruling which set aside his suspension by the Senate.

    Although no reason was given for his absence, sources said that Omo-Agege is likely to resume plenary Wednesday

    in compliance to the court judgement.