The immediate past Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday publicly apologised
to the ruling All Progressives Congress for embarrassing President Bola Tinubu on a live
television programme.
The apology came one month after he was removed as the Senate’s Chief Whip following
the interview he granted Arise TV, stating that Tinubu had been caged and prevented from knowing the hardships which Nigerians were going through,
Following his sack, Ndume was immediately replaced by the Senator representing Borno
North, Tahir Monguno.
Ndume’s replacement by the Senate followed a directive issued to that effect in a letter
written by the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje, and National Secretary,
Senator Bashir Ajibola.s
Addressing journalists after a two-hour closed-door meeting with members of the party’s
National Working Committee at its secretariat in Abuja, the senator said that though he has tendered an unreserved apology to the party, he stands by what he told Nigerians in the
interview.
He said, “Yesterday, I was invited by the party and here I am to discuss family matters.
Actually, the national chairman is not just a chairman to me but also a father. With what has happened, it is not surprising that I was invited to hear my side and we had a family discussion.
“I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I told 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 will be corrected moving forward. But whatever I said or
did was out of patriotism.
“Those issues may have been said strongly but they are true. Again, I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop. Next time when I want to talk, I will come and get clearance or at least talk to the party.”
When asked to address the speculation that his membership was withdrawn by the ruling
party, Ndume expressed surprise.
“My membership? No, I have not been expelled. Even the party did not say we don’t want
you here because the party is my father. “The only thing the party said is that ‘If you don’t
want this house, you can go to any house.’ But where will I go? This is my house,” he added.
The lawmaker also waved aside the question on whether he plans to apologise to the
President and the Senate over the development.
He stated, “The President and the Senate have nothing to do with this. The President did
not take offence. I didn’t insult the President or say anything against the party.”
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