Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has been replaced by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) as Majority Whip of the Senate as requested by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ndume’s removal as the Senate Majority Whip follows the unsubstantiated allegations he made against the Federal Government during a recent interview on Arise television.
The decision was supported by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus through a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the plenary session on Wednesday.
The party through a letter signed by its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, and addressed to the Senate had advised Ndume to resign from the APC and join any other political party of his choice.
Ndume during the said interview had opined that the country is being led by those who are unfit to govern, prioritising personal interests over the well-being of the nation and its citizens.
He said the “government is going down,” adding that it is “run by kakistocrats”.
“The government is also populated by kleptocrats, but unfortunately that is not what the president is up to; he really meant renewed hope, but you can only do that when you have people around you that are on the same type of thinking,” he said.
Ndume expressed worry over recent government policies, such as the cybercrime levy.
He had also criticised the limited access to the president, stating that some ministers only meet the president during council meetings and that the president is often the first to leave.
“I’m the chief whip, and if the chief whip can’t have access to the president, the new senators won’t have access either,” he said.
Ndume had emphasised the need for the president to surround himself with competent individuals, urging him to appoint democrats to key positions and ensure a more inclusive and effective governance.
This, according to him, would enable the president to harness the country’s potential and tackle pressing challenges.
“The president needs people who will realise his dream and tell him when something is wrong,” he said.
