The Borno State Acting Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Engineer Isiaku Yakubu, alongside members of the Obidient Harmonization Committee (OHC), visited the residence of the ousted Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume, in Maiduguri over the weekend.
The delegation condemned Ndume’s removal from his position in the Senate following his critical remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which he accused of fostering hunger and insecurity.
The LP Chairman and his team were also there to express condolences over the passing of Ndume’s sister-in-law.
Engineer Yakubu, speaking on behalf of the Labour Party, criticized the current administration for its alleged dictatorship and intolerance of constructive criticism.
He presented two letters to Senator Ndume: a condolence letter and an invitation to join the Labour Party. Yakubu emphasized the need for experienced politicians like Ndume to help move the country forward.
In his response, Senator Ndume thanked the Labour Party members for their support and condolences. He stressed the importance of opposition in a democracy and urged them to continue holding the government accountable.
Ndume also revealed that he had received invitations from other opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
However, he expressed his loyalty to the APC, highlighting his role as a founder and his respect for former President Buhari and President Tinubu.
“You can’t just leave a house you built because a tenant asked you to do so without cogent reason. I want to emphasise that I doesn’t make decisions alone, but will consult with people of my constituents, and whatever the position of my people is, that will be my position,” Ndume clarified.
Recall that last Thursday, Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South, accused Tinubu’s administration of neglecting pressing issues like poverty, insecurity, and hunger. He claimed that certain forces had isolated Tinubu from taking decisive action.
Following these remarks, the APC, through a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, asked Ndume to resign and join an opposition party.
Consequently, Ndume was removed from his positions as Chief Whip and Vice Chairman of Appropriation, with Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) taking over.
After the meeting at Ndume’s Maiduguri residence, the LP Chairman briefed journalists, saying, “We are here primarily to sympathize with Senator Ndume over the loss of a family member, and to also show our solidarity as a party that believes in fair hearing, rule of law, and has a vision for the country.
“I want to inform you that our Party (LP) and Senator Ndume are on the same page, the only difference between us is our party affiliation, but apart from that, we share virtually everything in common,
“We, the entire members of the LP appreciated the courage of Senator for standing by the Nigerian masses in this difficult economic challenges under President Tinubu. We are strongly behind Ndume and our door is open for him to come and join our party.”