Ndume says he won’t apologize to Senate President – Report

monjola sotubo

May 23, 2017 2:18 PM

Ndume was suspended on March 29 over a petition raised against Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki

Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has refused to apologize to Senate President,

Ndume was suspended on March 29 over a petition raised against Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.

According to The Nation, the Senate has assured Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima that it would recall Ndume, who’s from the state, if he apologizes.

“The governor, the Emirs and our leaders have had audience with the key figures in the Senate but they gave us only a condition that Ndume must apologize or write a letter of appreciation,” a source told The Nation.

“To us, the two conditions were ambiguous because none of the senators we met told us the exact offence Ndume committed. Some of them said a committee recommended the suspension and the majority had their way.

“But we went ahead to present these conditions to Ndume who rejected them. The former Senate Leader said he would neither apologize nor write any letter of appreciation because he committed no offence. He said he only drew the attention of the chamber to allegations in some publications which were investigated by the Senate.

“Ndume said if the Senate cannot review his suspension, he will prefer to serve the six-month suspension and leave either the judiciary or posterity to judge the upper chamber.

“The governor, the Emirs and leaders of Borno have offered to apologise to Saraki and the Senate on behalf of Ndume. Again, the Senate leadership has rejected this latest offer.

“Our concern is that the people of Borno South Senatorial District are suffering. We have begged them, they have turned down our plea. We are also waiting for pay-back time in 2019 during presidential race which is around the corner.

“The truth is that a wrong against a Borno man is a wrong against all. And if you do good to any Borno man, we will reciprocate too. This is our political attitude which President Muhammadu Buhari has benefited from,” the source added.

Ndume was suspended for urging the Senate to probe allegations that a vehicle owned by Saraki was cleared with fake documents leading to its seizure by Customs officers.

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The Senator also encouraged an investigation into accusations that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) as claimed.

Both Saraki and Melaye were cleared of all charges by the Senate.

monjola sotubo