A political pressure group, The Democratic Front, has hailed the removal of Ali Ndume as Senate Chief Whip, describing the action as decisive, firm, and resolute.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by TDF Chairman Malam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Wale Adedayo on Thursday in Abuja.
The group commended the All Progressives Congress for successfully pushing for Mr Ndume’s removal as the Senate’s Chief whip.
The decision to remove Mr Ndume from the ranks of principal officers of the Senate followed his utterances against President Bola Tinubu and his administration.
The group stated, “The TDF has noticed with dismay the series of negative and biased criticisms by a dime against his colleagues, President’s team and against the President. We recall that the former Senate Chief Whip made careless remarks and insinuations that could have incited commotion in the polity, when the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and a few CBN staff were transferred to Lagos, in an effort to cut the cost of governance and ease protocol of engagement with private sector players in the nation’s commercial capital.
“At the time, he was known to have said there would be “political consequences” for the movement, but as inciting as the comment was, it was overlooked by the party and the Senate. We were shocked and alarmed when Ndume recently described the government of President Tinubu as a ‘kakistocracy’ government. For us, it is a derogatory remark as well as the climax of the serial act of incivility by a member of the ruling party and the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate.’’
It therefore hailed the Senate leadership on its choice and APC’s leadership for the prompt and informed decision to request the removal and immediate replacement of Ndume as Senate Whip.
The TDF explained that the decision would save the party from the embarrassment of a disloyal member, adding that it needed to be decisive in instilling discipline and loyalty among its card-carrying members.
It urged Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, APC National Chairman and its National Working Committee to take further action on Mr Ndume to send clear signals to the party’s rank and file.
The group called on the new Senate Chief Whip to resist the urge to toe the self-serving path of Mr Ndume and advised him to be a good ambassador of the APC in the Senate.
On Wednesday, the Senate sacked Mr Ndume as Chief Whip for criticising President Tinubu’s administration.
The upper chamber replaced him with a member Tahir Monguno (APC-Borno).
The decision followed a letter from Mr Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC, and Bashir Ajibola, the party secretary, which the Senate president read during the plenary.
In the letter, the APC national leaders recommended that the Senate relieve Mr Ndume of his position because of his “unguarded utterances” that are “against the federal government.”
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