A large group of Borno State residents gathered at the Unity Fountain in Abuja on Wednesday to protest the recent removal of Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) from his position as Senate Chief Whip.
The demonstrators, carrying placards with messages like “We reject removal of Senator Ndume as Whip of the Senate,” expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the Senate’s decision.
Last Tuesday, the Senate, acting on a request from the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), replaced Ndume with Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC Borno North). This decision was communicated through a letter signed by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru.
The protest was led by the Southern Borno Development Association, headed by Muhammad Biu, who condemned the Senate’s action as unjust. The group called for Ndume’s reinstatement, arguing that his removal was a punishment for his candid remarks on national issues, particularly food insecurity. Biu emphasized that Ndume’s comments were meant to spur the government into addressing the severe food crisis facing Nigeria.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Biu articulated the group’s appeal. He stated, “On behalf of the good people of Southern Borno Senatorial District of Borno State, we humbly wish to appeal to the Distinguished Senate under your able leadership to passionately reconsider the APC Senate Caucus decision that removed Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate Chief Whip and also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation based on the letter written to the Senate by the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress.”
The letter further highlighted Ndume’s dedication to the APC and his constructive contributions to national governance. It argued that the Senate should have used internal mechanisms to resolve any issues with Ndume, rather than removing him from his leadership roles.
“We wish to state with the deepest sense of responsibility that Senator Ndume’s comments on the food insecurity issue appear to have been misunderstood as they were not intended to disparage the administration of President Bola Tinubu. On the contrary, it should be understood in the context of our collective effort to find solutions to our current food insecurity which the Government is fully aware.”
It added, “It is a well-known fact that Nigeria is currently facing a severe food crisis, with widespread hunger threatening the well-being of Nigerians. Senator Ndume, driven by a sense of responsibility and patriotism only called the attention of government to these pressing issues, hoping that prompt and effective action would be taken to address them.
“It is also on record that other prominent APC Senators had expressed similar views on the floor of the Senate and equally called on President Tinubu to take urgent measures to avert the seeming imminent food crisis.
“It is also on record that Sen Ndume is a dedicated APC member who laboured tirelessly from its formative stage to its present position and has never done anything that undermined the success of the party or its leadership, but rather offered constructive advice on good governance for the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
The letter further noted, “The Senate could have done better by deploying its internal democratic mechanism of resolving issues affecting its members. We pray that the Senate will not throw away the bath water with the baby over an issue that could amicably be resolved.
“In light of these facts and the need to give our Senatorial District its due position in the leadership of the Senate, we humbly appeal to the Senate to reconsider its position on the measures taken against Senator Ndume in the interest of fairness, justice, and equity and reinstate him accordingly.
“Additionally, we urge President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, the leader of our great party, a true democrat who upholds the tenets of democracy to passionately intervene.”
