Tag: Ndume

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has called on youths in the Borno South Senatorial District to identify and expose collaborators of Boko Haram in their communities.

During his end-of-year visit to the nine local government areas and five Emirate Councils in the district, Ndume also encouraged residents to embrace agriculture and business as pathways to economic resilience amid global economic challenges and rising living costs.

Speaking in Gwoza and Askira-Uba Local Government Areas, Ndume emphasized that reliance on government aid and salaries is unsustainable, urging massive farming efforts.

Ndume, who began his constituency visit from Gwoza, charged the youths who were assembled at the Emir of Gwoza’s Palace to take responsibility for security in the area and expose Boko Haram collaborators in their midst.

He noted that the terrorists could not have carried out attacks in some of the communities in Gwoza and other areas in Southern Borno without informants, who are giving information to the terrorists, and urged the youths to deal with such collaborators before handing them over to the security agencies.

Ndume commended the youths and residents of Gwoza for their resilience despite the activities of the terrorists in some areas of the local government area, and assured them that government is doing everything possible to ensure absolute return of peace in the areas for effective development.

He also commended the Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, for resettling eleven communities previously displaced by Boko Haram terrorists in the Gwoza local government. 

He added that the governor is working hard to resettle the Ashigarsya, Hambagda, Wala, and Yamtake communities of the council.

Read Also: Ningi, Ndume fail to stop Tax Reform Bills’ briefing

At the Emir of Uba’s Palace, Senator Ndume urged youths in southern Borno to as well embrace education, saying that the certificate obtained could be useful, even while the youths engage in other activities, such as agriculture or vocational skills to augment their livelihoods.

Responding, the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Manza, thanked God for bringing Senator Ndume safely to his domain and commended him for all the good work he has been doing for the people.

He appealed to the people of his domain to embrace agriculture and business as advised by the senator for prosperity and self sustainability, and appealed to government to train youths in the area on vocational skills and business.

• Borno South senator seeks prudence in governance

Erstwhile Senate Leader and senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has said all states, zones, and regions in the country need one another to survive.

He said the mineral resources or financial capability of any state or region does not insulate it from having a harmonious relationship with other states or regions for survival and development.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Ndume said the North is not parasitic, especially in the region’s economic survival strategies.

The erstwhile Senate Leader said: “The North was, is, and will never be a parasite or dependent on any region or even the country. We are assets, not liability, to Nigeria. Those who think that the current tax reform is only against Northern interest are naive. As it is, the law is against all the low and middle income Nigerians.”

Ndume called for prudence in governance so that the nation’s resources could be properly harnessed for the benefit of Nigerians.

Read Also: Ningi, Ndume fail to stop Tax Reform Bills’ briefing

But the Borno South senator insisted that the tax reform bills came at the wrong time, saying the economic hardship Nigerians are facing might worsen.

“I’m still insisting that the Tax Reforms Bills be withdrawn for more consultations and buy-in of critical stakeholders, like states, local governments and the private sector,” he said.

The former Senate Leader advised the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to expand its tax net, calling for greater demonstration of accountability among government arms and agencies.

“The FIRS should concentrate on expanding the tax net and collecting more. Also, accountability and transparency should be increased,” he said.

Ndume urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to beam its searchlight on commercial banks to ensure that banks that declare huge profits every year should pay more taxes.

Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Friday, October 11, accused fifth columnists of working hard to sabotage the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ndume said the persistent rise in the prices of fuel, food, essential goods and services is becoming unbearable to average Nigerians and the poor that form the majority.

Ndume, who made the assertions in a statement in Abuja, said bad elements are trying hard to pitch the people against the administration of President Tinubu by pushing for harsh reforms and bad policies instead of controlling inflation and exchange rate that are making life unbearable for Nigerians.

He said those who are bent on making the President look bad will stop at nothing in inflicting pains on Nigerians through the “so-called reforms until things get out of hand and the blame will be on President Tinubu.”

He claimed that many families can barely meet up with daily demands in their houses as a result of the hyper-inflation caused by incessant increase in the prices of essential goods and services.

Ndume said: “I personally believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria and Nigerians. I know this because I know what he stands for. But some of his advisers who don’t mean well for the people of this country give him wrong advice.

“I’m appealing to him to resist these bad people who want to pitch the people against his administration. The hardship these people are inflicting on Nigerians is becoming  unbearable. I’m currently in Borno, and I know what I’m talking about. People are really suffering, hungry, frustrated and angry.

“In Borno State here, many families can’t even feed anymore. The untold hardship of these frequent increases in the prices is unimaginable. Farmers can not even move their farm products anymore because of the high cost of transportation.

Read Also: Ndume urges military to clear remnants of terrorists

“Those who can still do this add the cost of transportation to the prices of food items they sell, and that’s why many people can’t feed again. People can’t travel anymore. To travel by road from Abuja to Maiduguri, for instance, is a fortune. How many of our people can afford that?

“I know that President Tinubu means well for Nigerians, and therefore he should not stay back and allow a few bad advisers to destroy this country. That’s why I’m begging him to do something before it is too late. It is not good to test the patience of Nigerians, and that’s exactly what these bad advisers are doing.

“As soon as the President returns to Nigeria, I urge him to look into these issues and address them urgently. The purchasing power of Nigerians is too poor, and they can’t afford the things that are being pushed on them every day by enemies of state.”

• Stop politicising insecurity, Kwankwaso cautions politicians
• Senator lauds Zulum’s resettlement efforts in Borno

Former Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Ali Ndume has urged the military, under the Theatre Command of the Northeast’s Operation Hadin Kai and other security agencies, to clear all remnants of Boko Haram insurgents still hibernating around Sambisa forest, Mandara Mountains and other hideouts in border communities within Gwoza and the Republic of Cameroon.

The senator representing Borno South said this in a statement by his media office yesterday in Abuja.

He said: “Sincerely, the renewed pockets of attacks recently perpetrated by insurgents have posed serious economic setbacks to our resilient farmers who were newly resettled in liberated communities of Ngoshe, Kirawa, Warabe, Wala, Pulka and even Gwoza town, the local government’s headquarters.

“This is because the terrorists resorted to looting their immature crops without confrontation.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to the military and other security agencies to intensify more efforts aimed at clearing the remnants of terrorists still hibernating in Sambisa Forest and parts of Mandara Mountains bordering Cameroon Republic and Nigeria.”

The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army expressed gratitude to Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his extraordinary contributions to the development and rebuilding of about 10 Gwoza communities that were destroyed by insurgents.

Ndume, who distributed bags of fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, and cash to thousands of people, mostly farmers, women and youths, also provided solar-powered streetlights to his constituents.

Also, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Dr. Iliyasu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday cautioned Nigerians to stop politicising security issues.

Read Also: Lagos signs MoU with Chinese firm on rice value chain, agriculture

He noted that the politicisation of security matters was hindering smooth progress the current administration was making in the fight against insecurity.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Kano, he lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Defence at ensuring the military high command’s relocation to Sokoto.

But he expressed sadness over how some “political jobbers” engaged in causing rifts between the former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle and the lawmaker representing Birnin Magaji/Kauran Namoda Federal Constituency, Aminu Sani Jaji.

Kwankwaso praised Matawalle for announcing a N20 million reward for anyone who could provide fruitful information that could lead to the arrest of bandits.

He said: “Initially, people were condemning the Defence Ministry for inaction. Now that steps have been taken for the fight against the terrorists, the same people are condemning the ministry. This is very hypocritical.

“Those engaging in this act are beneficiaries of the terrorism that is killing our people out there. That is why they have turned the matter into politics.”

Kwankwaso queried: “People are being killed by these terrorists, and the situation has gone bad. Now that the ministry has taken steps towards dealing with the situation, to the extent that about 80 terrorists were killed yesterday, why would any right-thinking person come out to condemn the action?

“I want to call on our people to please join hands together and support the efforts of the government in this fight against terrorism put in place by President Bola Tinubu.

Indications emerged on Wednesday, August 6, that the Senate may soon reinstate Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Majority Whip.

Ndume was recently stripped of the position following his disparaging comment against the party and the present administration.

A source close to the leadership of the Senate who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “If the Senate receives a directive from the party to reinstate Ndume, it will be considered. Ndume was removed as Senate Majority Chief Whip on the prompting of the party.”

Ndume had on Tuesday apologised to the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for not consulting the party before publicly criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Ndume was replaced by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno following a letter by the ruling party to sanction him for his unguarded statement against the President.

In the letter jointly signed by APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, APC directed the Upper Chamber to sanction Ndume for deliberately failing to utilise the party’s machinery to vent his anger before going public, despite being a senior member and lawmaker of the ruling party.

In an interview with Arise Television, Ndume alleged that President Tinubu was held captive by forces in the Presidential Villa, saying they were feeding the President with lies and shielding him from selfless Nigerians who could tell him the truth.

His criticism led to his removal as a principal officer of the National Assembly and a committee chairman.

Addressing reporters after a meeting with APC’s National Working Committee (NWC), Ndume said his comments which were considered offensive were patriotically motivated.

“Whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism,” he said.

Read Also: I apologise to APC but stand by my words, says Ndume

He added: “Yesterday (Monday), I was invited by the party and here I am to discuss family matters. Actually, the national chairman is not just a national chairman to me but a father.

“With what has happened, which you are all aware of, it is not surprising that I am invited to hear my own side and we had family discussions.

“I actually accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I promised the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended with the party.

“That is something, moving forward. But whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism and those issues, maybe said strongly, but they are true. But then, I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop.”

On his part, Ganduje had said the party would convey Ndume’s apology to the Senate, adding: “When we do that, we hope they can review their position.”

Ganduje had said: “We are quite satisfied with his apology. Like he said, we invited him, and you know the party is the father of everybody.

“As a party, we are free to invite legislators. We are free to invite members of the executive, and we are even free to invite all the appointed party members in the government.

“So, it is a family issue. We needed to resolve it. We are writing to the National Assembly, conveying what has transpired between Senator Ndume and the party.

“You know he apologized to the party. We will convey the same issue to the National Assembly. When we do that, we hope they can review their position.”

The former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume on Tuesday, August 6, apologised to the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for not consulting the party before publicly accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The Bornu South representative in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, however, said that he stands by his words, insisting that “whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism.”

Ndume was removed and replaced by Senator Mohammed Monguno following a letter by the ruling party to sanction the lawmaker for his hurtful and unguarded statement against the president.

In the letter jointly signed by APC national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru directed the upper chamber to sanction the controversial lawmaker, being a high-ranking leader of the party, but deliberately failing to utilise party machinery to vent his anger before going public.

Ndume, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, alleged that President Bola Tinubu is held captive by forces in the Presidential Villa. Just as he alleged that they have been feeding him with lies and shielding him from selfless Nigerians who can tell him the truth.

His criticism led to his removal from his position as a principal officer in the National Assembly and a committee chairman.

Addressing newsmen after a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) which lasted for about two hours, Ndume said he was invited by the party to discuss his removal as a principal officer of the Senate.

Ndume said: “Yesterday I was invited by the party and here I am to discuss family matters. Actually, the national chairman is not just a national chairman to me but a father.

“With what has happened which you are all aware, it is not surprising that I am invited to hear my own side and we had family discussions and I actually accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I promised the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended with the party.

“That is something that moving forward but whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism and those issues may be said strong but they are true but then I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop.”

Asked about his membership in APC, the Senator said: “I have not been expelled, even the party did not say we don’t want you here, because he is my father, the party is my father, the only thing the party said is that look if you don’t want this house you can go to any house. Where will I go? This is my house.”

Read Also: After protesting, Ndume gets new office on fourth floor

When asked whether he will apologise to the President and the Senate, Ndume said: “The President and the Senate have nothing to do with this, the President did not take offence, I didn’t insult the President, I didn’t say anything against the party but I left the party out of reaching on issues and so, please I think that is all I can say.”

Confirming Ndume’s apology to the party, the National Chairman said: “We are quite satisfied with his apology, like he said we invited him and you know the party is the father of everybody as a party, we are free to invite legislators, we are free to invite members of the executive, and we are even free to invite all the appointed party members in the government.

“So, it is a family issue we need to resolve it and we are writing to the National Assembly conveying what has transpired between Senator Ndume and the party and you know he apologized to the party and we convey the same issue to the National Assembly, when we do that we hope they can review their position.”