Senator
Ali Ndume, who was suspended, has provided more insight into his suspension,
saying he will not apologise to Senate President Bukola Saraki in order to get
reinstated.
Ndume
spoke on Saturday as a crowd of supporters turned out on to receive him when he
visited his constituency, Borno South, for the first time since his suspension
from the Senate.
He
was placed on a 181-day suspension by his colleagues for demanding that the
upper legislative house investigate publications that accused Saraki and Dino
Melaye, of improper activities.
Saraki
was accused of using fake Customs papers to import an official vehicle while
Mr. Melaye was accused of lying that he graduated from the Ahmadu Bello
University.
Following
Mr. Ndume’s request, the Senate conducted an investigation that cleared the
lawmakers, while Mr. Ndume was subsequently punished for raising a false alarm.
On
Saturday, Ndume embarked on a visiting tour of some parts of his constituency
where he was welcomed by supporters who declared support for him.
The
Senator, during the visit addressed his constituents at various locations where
he told them that his plight at the National Assembly was because of his
insistence on doing the right thing.
“Your
Royal Highness, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it took us hours to squeeze
through the crowd of supporters to get to this place. And this gives me the
greatest joy because my people still appreciate me.
“I
will not remain a Senator for the rest of my life; but for the time I serve as
the representative of my people, I shall continue to do and tell the truth. I
know if I had erred, I would not have been received here. But I enjoy the
support of my people because they know my suspension was because I spoke the
truth.
“I
know those that suspended me are going now regretting their actions because of
the massive protest that trailed my illegal suspension. After seeing the
support that I enjoy from Nigerians, the same people that suspended me came to
say I should tender an apology so that my suspension could be lifted. But I
said no to that because I did not commit any offence in the first place.
“They
later came to say the Senate President, Senator Melaye and I should go and
reconcile our difference; and I told them that I had no issue with either of
them, so there is nothing to reconcile – as far as I am concerned we have a good
working relationship.
“But
I thank the Governor of Borno State, and Your Royal Highness, the Emir of Biu,
and all those that sent emissaries in seeking to ensure that this issue is
resolved. We are still talking, but I know I had not committed any offence.”
“My
religion enjoins me to always stand on the path of truth even if I turn around
and found that everyone has deserted me.
“Firstly,
I know my trouble with them started because of my support for the policies and
ideals of President Muhammadu Buhari. Secondly, when Ibrahim Magu’s name was
brought to the Senate as nominee for the Chairmanship of EFCC, some group in
the senate insisted that he would not be cleared. And in my position as the
then Senate Majority leader, it was incumbent upon me to support any nominee
sent in by the Executive. Besides that, the same nominee is from my state,
Borno; besides, he [Magu] had committed no offence to be denied the senate
clearance.
“Above
all, the majority of Nigerians loved him because he is doing the job well even
as an acting chairman of EFCC.
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