TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ali Ndume

  • BREAKING: Senate sacks Ndume as chief whip

    BREAKING: Senate sacks Ndume as chief whip

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday asked Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, to resign from the party.

    The party also asked the senator to vacate his position as chief whip of the senate.

    The APC made the requests in a letter sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    The letter was read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

    Abdullahi Ganduje, national chair of the APC; and Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the party; nominated Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno north, to take Ndume’s place.

    The APC accused Ndume of making hurtful comments against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

     

  • BREAKING: Senate removes Ndume as Chief Whip

    BREAKING: Senate removes Ndume as Chief Whip

    The Senate on Wednesday removed Senator Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip, replacing him with Senator Tahir Monguno.

    Ndume’s removal by the Senate was contained in a letter that was read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber during plenary.

    The letter which was written by the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje and National Secretary, Senator Bashir Ajibola also asked him to resign from the party.

    The request was put to voice votes by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and loudly affirmed by all the APC senators

    Details later

  • APC replies Sen. Ndume, says Tinubu not “caged”

    APC replies Sen. Ndume, says Tinubu not “caged”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the inability of Sen. Mohammed Ndume to access President Bola Tinubu cannot warrant or justify his outlandish declaration that the president had been “caged”.

    Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    The statement was the party’s reaction to comments credited to Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, saying President Bola had been “caged”.

    Ndume while saying that securing financial autonomy for Local Governments was the greatest achievement of Tinubu since he assumed office in 2023, also said that he was unaware of existential challenges in the country.

    “The latest outburst in the media by the senator representing Borno South, and Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume, claiming that President Tinubu has been caged.

    “And unaware of existential challenges in the country is as haughty as it is unnecessary.

    “As a Senator, Ndume has platform of the National Assembly to raise and address matters that he may consider to be in the national interest.

    “He also has access to the entire machinery of the Federal Government,” the APC spokesman said.

    He added that Ndume was, however yet to explain the use to which he had put these enormous access in seeking solutions to concerns that he might have.

    Morka said it was understandable if the senator felt frustrated by his suggested inability to access the President.

    “But this does not warrant or justify his outlandish declaration that the President had been caged in some way or ensconced from the reality of conditions in the country.

    “Ndume’s heedless comments smack of an indulgent sense of entitlement to see the President on a whim. The President is busy doing the job Nigerians elected him for.

    “He is the head of government, of which there are many critical parts equipped with power to process and deal with a wide range of simple to complex social, economic, political or security challenges.

    “The President’s time is required to be used judiciously in attending to important matters of state,” Morka explained.

    He recalled that on July 4, the President inaugurated the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and launched the Economic Stabilisation Programme.

    According to him, the programmes are to ensure food security, improved power supply, enhanced social welfare, healthcare, increased energy production and general economic transformation.

    Morka said President Tinubu was earlier in an important meeting with leaders of the organised labour on the issue of the new minimum wage.

    He further explained that Tinubu meets and interacts regularly with citizens, officials and guests from all walks of life, as his schedule permits.

    He added that he had continued to superintend the formulation and implementation of policy and programme measures, aimed at mitigating prevailing economic conditions.

    He said the president was also working to boost availability and price access to food and other essential commodities.

    “In similar vein, President Tinubu recently signed an Executive Order aimed at reducing the high cost of drugs; approved tax waivers for the importation of some food items.

    “In the bid to crashing prices and ensuring food sufficiency and directed the Armed Forces to combat and defeat resurgent of acts of terror, among many other important engagements.

    “This speaks eloquently to his command of the situation in the country,”the APC spokesman stressed.

    He advised that as a senior party man and senator, Ndume should exercise restraint and quit his penchant for unhelpful attention-seeking media posturing.

    “Our dear country needs all hands to be on deck on the cusp of national transformation, each doing their part to remake the social, economic and security conditions in the best interest of our people,” Morka said.

  • Budget padding saga: Ndume reveals how much senior Senators, floor members received for constituency projects

    Budget padding saga: Ndume reveals how much senior Senators, floor members received for constituency projects

    Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume has revealed how much senior Senators and floor members of the Nigerian Senate received for constituency projects.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Senate has been rocked following allegations by Senator Abdul Ningi that the 2024 budget was padded and that approved projects were skewed to favour sections of the country.

    As the Senate was being rattled by Ningi’s allegation, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe claimed that some Senators got N500 million each from the 2024 budget for constituency projects.

    Responding to the claims, Senator Ndume confirmed that some principal officers in the 10th National Assembly did receive more than the N200 million allocation for constituency projects in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

    Asked when he featured in Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday whether the claim by Agom-Jarigbe was true, Ndume said:

    “It’s disparity now, we are not the same; all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other. That’s what the case is. They have agreed to that.

    “All the Senators have N200 million (each) as their constituency projects but I am a leader. That is the difference. 10 of us are leaders including those in the opposition. We get more than the floor members. It’s normal.

    “That decision is taken by the Senators. We have the Senate Budget Committee before but now the floor members entrusted that to the presiding officers. That’s the difference. So, most of the Senators don’t know what I get and I will not tell you.”

    He contended that in the United States as well, discretionary powers are granted for constituency projects.

    “Right now, Democrats have the majority, so they have more. In the Senate, we are very nice to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators despite the fact they didn’t treat us the same,” Ndume said.

    Speaking further, the Senate Chief Whip said Ningi was trying to make 2024 projects an ethnic and political issue.

    “I sat next to the Senate Leader (Opeyemi Bamidele), he was very angry of what Ningi did, but honestly me too, what he (Ningi) did was wrong because I was involved,” Ndume said.

    “In the first instance, it started when they said capital project was skewed to the South.

    “The total in that budget that was brought before us by the President was not up to N9 trillion, it was N8.9 trillion and they are talking of skewed capital project to the South and the total adding up to N15 trillion.

    “That N15 trillion is strange, even with the amendment that we made, the capital component of this budget is not up to that.”

    Ndume disclosed that when Ningi first presented the case to him, he told him to provide evidence but that he could not.

    He insisted that as a senior member of the Senate, he can attest to the fact that the North was not shortchanged by the South in the 2024 budget as claimed by Ningi.

  • Why we shunned made in Nigeria vehicles – Senate Chief Whip, Ndume

    Why we shunned made in Nigeria vehicles – Senate Chief Whip, Ndume

    Senator Ali Ndume has given detailed information why all lawmakers shunned made in Nigeria vehicles and opted for imported ones.

    The senator representing Borno South made the disclosure while granting an interview on Arise TV on Friday.

    Ndume said that made in Nigeria vehicles are not manufactured in the country but only assembled here.

    Recall  that each lawmaker in the National Assembly received N160 million for a Land Cruiser SUV.

    Ndume, who is the Senate Chief Whip, stressed that it is not a new thing for government workers to buy vehicles for official duties.

    He said that the vehicles are needed for the lawmakers.

    “The reason why we did not choose Nigerian-made cars is because they don’t manufacture their vehicles, but they assemble them.

    “I prefer Nigerian-made products, but the Nigerian car companies are only buying the vehicle parts and assembling them here.”

  • REVEALED: N5bn presidential yacht already delivered – Ali Ndume

    REVEALED: N5bn presidential yacht already delivered – Ali Ndume

    Borno lawmaker and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume has revealed the controversial N5 billion presidential yacht has been delivered already.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ndume as saying the presidential yacht had been signed and delivered but not paid for before the public outcry.

    The ranking Senator noted that the red chamber has since added the required payment fee to the student loan budget.

    “We queried the amount budgeted for the yacht, but it was signed for in dollar rate, and the new rate isn’t favourable. The budget was predicated for about N435, and now it is over N800,” Ndume said.

    “The Navy also clarified that it is not a new budget. And even the House of Representatives moved the budget to the Student loan. The deal for the yacht has been agreed, signed, and delivered but not paid for,” he added.

    Speaking on the N160 million for Land Cruiser SUV for each lawmaker in the National Assembly, the Chief Whip stressed that it is not a new thing for government workers to be buying vehicles for official duties.

    He maintained that the price of the vehicles was also affected by the volatility of the Naira to Dollar rate, adding that the vehicles are needed for the lawmakers.

    “The reason why we did not choose Nigerian-made cars is because they don’t manufacture their vehicles, but they assemble them.

    “I prefer Nigerian-made products, but the Nigerian car companies are only buying the vehicle parts and assembling them here.”

  • Senate Chief Whip storms out of plenary

    Senate Chief Whip storms out of plenary

    Chief Whip of Senate, Sen.Ali Ndume on Tuesday left the plenary, after President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order.

    Ndume had raised a point of order citing Order 54 of Senate rule, saying that it was the responsibility of the Chief Whip to remind and guild Senate on procedure and processes of plenary.

    Ndume through the order attempted to draw the attention of the Senate President to matters relating to proceedings of Senate.

    But President of Senate, shortly after listening to Ndume’s point of order said the section quoted by Ndume was not the same with the content of Order 54 cited.

    Akpabio consequently ruled him out of order.

    At this point, Ndume left the plenary and went to his office, as Senate President called for a closed session.

    However, Ndume on receiving a call from a colleague that the Senate resolved into close session returned back to join proceedings in the closed session.

  • God will hold Buhari accountable for insecurity in Nigeria – Ndume

    God will hold Buhari accountable for insecurity in Nigeria – Ndume

    The Senator representing Borno South senatorial district of Borno State in the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Ali Ndume has said God will hold President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for the security challenges that besieged Nigeria under his tenure.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Ndume said this on Sunday while that President Buhari is responsible for not only the security and welfare of his citizens but everything that happens within his tenure.

    According to Ndume, Buhari, who has the power to appoint and sack non-performing service chiefs, has been acting as the director-in-chief rather than as the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces.

    “The President is the Commander in Chief. The bulk stops at his table. The president is responsible for not only the security and welfare of his citizens but everything that happens within his tenure. President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for that. And I think he understands that.

    “What I am not comfortable with, I have said it before, is for the president to be directing. He is not a director-in-chief. He is commander-in-chief. The president should take up and do what is required of him as the commander-in-chief.

    “As I said, for him as a president, it is him that God will ask. For me as a Senator in Southern Borno, it is me that God will ask whether I have represented or said or talked on behalf of the people, I have executed my mandate as their representative in the National Assembly.

    “So, it is not like you are looking for somebody who is to do that. It is the president. The president can appoint anybody to do so-so thing, direct anybody to do so-so and so but he is the commander-in-chief. So, he is the one that is responsible,” Ndume said.

    Speaking during an interview on Channels TV Sunday Politics programme, the Borno South Senator, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, also said the Nigerian army does not have the capacity to fight terrorism.

    Ndume said the major problem is inadequate equipment for the armed forces and manpower. According to him, Nigeria has less than 400,000 personnel. He also said that the allocation to the army is insignificant and not released on time.

    Speaking on the move to impeach President Buhari, Ndume said “talking about impeaching Buhari now is not the issue. The issue is to resolve security challenges in Nigeria”.

  • Rotimi Amaechi declares interest to contest in 2023 Presidential election

    Rotimi Amaechi declares interest to contest in 2023 Presidential election

    Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed his intention to contest in the 2023 Presidential election.

     

    Disclosing it at an ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the former Rivers Governor said he would seek the party’s ticket to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    “I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President”, he announced.

     

    In attendance are top APC chieftains, including ex- national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Gbemi Saraki, Senator Ali Ndume, Victor Giadom, Salihu Mustapha.

     

    A fortnight ago, security around the minister had been heightened.

     

    Impecabble sources linked the development to the 2023 presidential race, insisting Buhari is favourably disposed to seeing Amaechi lead the country.

     

    The two-time Rivers House of Assembly Speaker now has extra protective agents and a newly-acquired bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

     

    In January, Buhari refused to disclose his preference as successor, expressing fear that the person might be eliminated.

     

    In February, Amaechi was turbaned as Dan Amanar Daura (trusted son of Daura) for his contributions to local and national development.

     

    The President, who appointed Amaechi as his Campaign Director in the 2015 and 2019 elections, is a native of Daura in Katsina State.

  • Insecurity: Why I feel safer in Maiduguri than Abuja – Senator Ndume

    Insecurity: Why I feel safer in Maiduguri than Abuja – Senator Ndume

    Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume on Thursday said he is more relaxed and at ease when visiting Maiduguri than Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, is closer to Nigeria’s insurgency war in the North-East.

    The war has raged on for over a decade.

    Ndume who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army while speaking on a monitored Channels Television programme on Thursday said the insurgents have been kept away from the city and can only attack soft targets in other areas of Borno State.

    “I live in Abuja and also live in Maiduguri,” he said. “Once I come to Maiduguri, I feel safer than in Abuja, because somebody can knock down your door with a gun. In Maiduguri, we don’t hear of that.

    “It is outside Maiduguri where the insurgents are marauding around and attack intermittently. And that’s normal with insurgents, that’s why they are called insurgents, they do hit and run on soft targets.”

    He stressed that “in every society, you can’t wipe out criminality completely. In America, there is school shooting. Our own is that we have known terrorists and the army is fighting them.”

    Senator Ndume, who has repeatedly called for more funding for the army, said the situation seems to be improving with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the welfare of the fighting troops.

    “With the new budget, things will soon change,” he said.

    Senator Ndume was speaking on the heels of President Buhari’s visit to Borno earlier on Thursday.

    The Senator described the visit as a boost to the morale of the Nigerian troops.

    “The President went round for six hours – I was tired. He came in 10 o’clock and we were going to see various projects until four o’clock this evening before he left,” he said, praising President Buhari’s stamina.

    Senator Ndume also commended President Buhari’s bold welfare plans for the state, including the decision to build 10,000 houses for displaced persons and the provision of financing for a power plant.

    But he urged the federal government to “walk the talk” and fast-track its financing of army operations, especially the acquisition of improved fighting equipment.

    “We should now walk the talk by accelerating the release of funds on time,” Senator Ndume said. “The army now has the numbers.”

    With the apparent death of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, terrorist group ISWAP appears to have replaced Boko Haram as the new face of insurgency in the region.

    “ISWAP is more deadly, more sophisticated, have international connection, access to military armament and the likes, but the other side of them is that they don’t kill civilians indiscriminately like the Boko Haram and in fact that was what ignited the fight between the ISWAP and the Shekau group,” Ndume said.

    “Now the Shekau group have been virtually eliminated, it means that our Nigerian troops are going to face what they know specifically.

    “What was frustrating them most was the indiscriminate killing of civilians and other soft targets, destruction of public property by the Boko Haram.

    “But now that the ISWAP is saying we are just going after the military or the armed forces or the security agencies. Our security agencies are up to the task; Our security agencies are up to the task and ready for them. They have engaged themselves and (ISWAP) have suffered serious casualties.”