The group gave the applause on Wednesday in a statement issued by its chairman, Alhaji Danjuma Muhammad, and the Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo.

The group said it was uncomfortable that Ali Ndume had been involved in issues against President Bola Tinubu and the APC government which he is an active member.

Said the group: “The TDF has noticed with discomfort of recent, that Senator Ali Ndume, who represents the Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate, has been involved in series of dramatic controversies against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC Federal Government, in which he is an active member, ever since the retrenchment of his daughter from the workforce of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in April this year.

“We recall that the controversial Senate Chief Whip once made careless remarks and insinuations that could have incited commotion in the polity, when the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and a few staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria were moved to Lagos, in the effort to cut the cost of governance, and to ease the protocol of government -private sector engagements in the nation’s commercial capital.

READ ALSO: Alake, African mining ministers plan tougher rules for value addition

“We were shocked and alarmed when Ndume described the APC government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a Kakistocracy (government by the most clueless people).”

The group added that it was height of “a pedestrian irresponsibility for a member of the ruling party and the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate to publicly and derogatorily insult himself and his colleagues over a contentious national issue, in which he is obviously on the wrong side.”

TDF said it strongly believed that the alleged uncivil and confrontational approach of Ndume to important national issues, coupled with his backtracking skill to flip-flop on his previous views was bad.

“In competence and merit, Ndume does not qualify to be elected into the National Assembly, much less of being the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate. We salute the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his prompt and informed decision, to save the party from the embarrassment of a disloyal member, by requesting for the removal and immediate replacement of Ndume, as the Chief Whip of the Senate,” the group said.

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Sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (APC– Borno South), the bill was first read about a year ago on Tuesday, 17th December, 2019.

Leading debate on the bill, Senator Ndume said, “the core mandate being sought by the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill is to develop, empower, and provide gainful employment for the youth to facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch, nation-building.”

The lawmaker added that the piece of legislation, when passed into law, would give statutory backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria.

According to him, the corps had over 187,000 members comprising of regular staff and volunteers with well-structured network of branches in 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Hunters Council of Nigeria also scaled second reading on the floor during plenary on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP– Ekiti South), the bill seeks to, among other things, provide community policing, maintenance of law and order in communities; and provide synergy with other security agencies to ensure peace and security.

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, this bill seeks to control and prevent crime from within the community as doing that from outside the community entails recruiting strangers who might not be familiar with crime terrains as well as criminals in the community.

“The bill seeks to enact a law that will legalise the activities of various hunter groups in Nigeria to provide against the notion that these groups lack the constitutional powers to act and therefore are arrogating such powers to themselves,” Olujimi said.

The Nigerian Peace Corps Bill and the Nigerian Hunters Council of Nigeria Bill, after scaling second reading, were both referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Interior for further legislative inputs.

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Recall that he was ordered to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre following his failure to produce in court, former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, PRTT, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is being tried for alleged fraud.

Ali Ndume stands as surety for Maina.

Justice Okon Abang said he should be remanded pending when he would be able to pay his N500 million bail bond.

However, granting his bail on Friday, the judge said the court used its discretionary powers based on Ndume’s good conduct in the course of the trial of Maina.

Ali Ndume’s release came after he had spent five days at the correctional centre.

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This is as Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court , Abuja, refused to grant his request.

He said Adedipe’s application to that effect had not reached the court file.

Adedipe who was appearing for the second defendant in the case, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd, on Wednesday said his decision to withdraw from the case was because the company had not perfected his brief.

The company is said to be owned by Maina.

The judge had earlier criticised Maina’s legal team for appearing and receiving briefing from its client who was said to have gone hiding.

He adjourned the case till December 4.

It would be recalled that Senator Ali Ndume was on Monday ordered to be remanded in Kuje prison following his failure to produce Maina.

Ndume stood as surety for Maina in the alleged fraud case.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave the order on Monday as Maina had jumped bail.

Abang said Ndume should be remanded in prison pending when he would be able to produce Maina or fulfill the bail bond he deposed to.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, deposed to a N500 million bail bond on May 5 when he stood as a surety for Maina.

The decision of the court followed the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that Ndume should be made to forfeit the bail bond since he could not produce Maina.

The court had also revoked the bail granted Maina, and ordered his arrest.

EFCC’s lawyer handling the case is Mohammed Abubakar.

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Ndume stood as surety for Maina who is facing trial over alleged case of fraud.

Justice Abang Okong of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave the order on Monday as Maina had jumped bail.

Okong said Ndume should be remanded in prison pending when he would be able to produce Maina or fulfill the bail bond he deposed to.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, deposed to a N500 million bail bond on May 5 when he stood as a surety for Maina.

The decision of the court followed the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that Ndume should be made to forfeit the bail bond since he could not produce Maina.

The court had also revoked the bail granted Maina, and ordered his arrest.

EFCC’s lawyer handling the case is Mohammed Abubakar.

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The Chief of Defence Staff is Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff is Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff is Sadique Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff is Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the Presidency said the resolution of the Senate was noted.

It however declared that the appointment or sack of the service chiefs were the prerogative of the president.

It assured that President Muhammadu Buhari would do what was in the best interest of the country at all times.

The statement reads: “The Senate Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.

“The Presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative, and President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times.”

The Senate passed the resolution calling for resignation or sack of the service chief consequent upon a motion to that effect by the senator representing Borno South and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume.

The Senate’s argument reads in part: “The Senate notes with concern the number of casualties among the Nigerian army and other security agencies.

“That just recently 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along Maiduguri-Damboa road in Borno state, 19 were wounded and nine were declared missing in action.

“In Katsina, soldiers were also ambushed and killed while several others were wounded, the number of casualties is not known.

“The senate appreciates the sacrifice of our armed forces in the fight against the insurgency and banditry and protection of territorial integrity and several other security assignments given to them.

“The senate is concerned that if the trend continues, it would have serious implications on the fight against insurgency, banditry.

“It has been alleged that over 200 soldiers voluntarily resigned their engagement or appointment with the Nigerian army.”

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It expressed disappointment “to hear a politician call out unnamed individuals in the administration and accuse them of unnamed transgressions.”

The reactions were against the backdrop of Ndume ‘s claim that some government officials were involved in some malpractices.

The Presidency said he should back his claims of against any individual or organization with evidence as the COVID-19 Palliative Measures Committee would not be replaced based on mere allegations which had not been proved.

The statement by the Presidency which was issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, reads:

SENATOR ALI NDUME SHOULD FIGURE OUT HIS MENTIONED “KLEPTOCRATS” AROUND THE PRESIDENT OR BE QUIET

When he was first elected President in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari said that he belonged to everybody and belonged to nobody. What was true then remains true today. 

He believes in public service, as a servant of the people – and he expects the exact same commitment from members of his government and, of course, his closest aides.

The President has made it clear times without number that anyone who will not, cannot, or does not pull his weight – nor meet these exacting standards – is not welcome in his administration. A number of ranking officials have been shown the way out at various times simply on account of this.

Similarly, he believes in loyalty and truthfulness. Should any individuals be found to be serving themselves and not the people, then it is right and proper to call them out. But this must be done on the basis of evidence and proof – not on conjecture.

It is therefore disappointing to hear a politician call out unnamed individuals in the administration and accuse them of unnamed transgressions.

If this politician has evidence – then he should make public their identities as well as his proof. Innuendo is not proof.

Similarly, simply claiming that the COVID-19 Palliative Measures Committee is not functioning as it should is not the same as presenting proof for such a claim.

No one replaces an institutional government body in the midst of the global pandemic without clear and irrefutable evidence that it needs replacing.

A press briefing from a discontented politician is rarely the source of such evidence.

At this difficult time of the battle by Nigeria against Coronavirus, everyone should help the fight and not seek to make political capital out of it, whatever his or her grievances.

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The swearing in was carried out by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori.

His swearing-in followed his emergence as the winner of the contest for the seat of the Senate President.

He succeeds Dr. Bukola Saraki, who headed the 8^th Senate, when sworn in.

Lawan recorded 79 votes against his rival, Senator Ali Ndume who got 28 votes.

While Lawan is the candidate endorsed by his party, Ndume was endorsed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The election was held following the inauguration of the 9^th Senate on Tuesday.

Before the voting was commenced, the Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Oyewo, made a roll call of senators present.

A proposal for Ahmed Lawan to contest for the post of the Senate President was made by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and seconded by Senator Adeola Solomon.

In the same vein, Senator Isyaku Abu of Adamawa North nominated Ali Ndume to run for the post of the Senate President.

The two contestants made some remarks on why they chose to contest for the post.

Having emerged, Lawan will oversee the election of the principal officers of the Senate.

The process of electing the Deputy Senate President is underway as at the time of filing this report.

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In the same vein, the party endorsed Mr. Umar Bago as its candidate for the pose of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The endorsement was made public in a statement issued by PDP’s National Secretary, Senator Umar Tsauri.

According to him, the decision was taken after due consultations with stakeholders.

His words:  “The final resolution on Sen. Ndume and  Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the National Working Committee, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP.

“This decision is in the best interest of the nation in line with our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance with the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.”

He added that all senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP should support the party’s decisions.

It would be recalled that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, had endorsed Ahmed Lawan as its candidate for the post of the Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It also approved for the post of Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and Muhammed Idris Wase as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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