Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has revealed that former Senate President Bukola Saraki allegedly betrayed him despite his support for Saraki’s emergence as the 8th Senate President.
Speaking during an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW) Hausa service, Ndume recounted his tumultuous experience in the Senate, including being suspended without salary and later removed as Chief Whip in the current 10th Senate.
“I was removed as Senate leader and later suspended for eight months without salary. It riled me up because we played a crucial role in the emergence of Saraki (as Senate President), but he betrayed me,” Ndume stated.
He further claimed his removal as Chief Whip in the current Senate was a consequence of his commitment to “speaking the truth.” However, he noted that he has since moved past these incidents, expressing faith that divine justice will prevail.
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“But it is now a thing of the past. And as I watch, Allah in his mercy is avenging the betrayal,” the senator added.
Ndume also expressed deep concern over the worsening conditions of Nigeria’s poor, despite his persistent efforts to advocate for their welfare. He lamented that democracy in the country has deviated from its intended purpose.
“It worries me that despite committing myself to the cause of improving the welfare of the masses in the hope that their condition would be better, it is lamentable that this has not yet been achieved,” he said.
The senator criticized the current administration, alleging that it has failed to deliver on promises made to the Nigerian people.
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“The government of the day is now ‘personalised.’ A government under a democratic rule is supposed to be a government of the people, for the people and by the people. But this is not so now,” he lamented.
Ndume also reflected on the hopes raised during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current government.
He said the expectations that sacrifices made by the poor would yield better outcomes have not been realized.
“We held hopes high during the administration of Buhari and now the present government, thinking that the sacrifices of the poor would pay off. I’m worried because I’m also a son of the poor,” Ndume remarked.