North East elders, stakeholders, others support Ndume’s quest for President of 9th Senate

AS election of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly draws near, elders and stakeholders in the North Eastern region, resident in Abuja have thrown their weight and support behind the quest by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume to succeed Dr Bukola Saraki as the President of the Senate.

In the same vein, the National Councilors’ Forum, North Central Zone, Abuja chapter has asked the newly elected senators of the 9th assembly to elect Ndume as the next Senate president.

The acting chairman of the North East elders/stakeholders forum in Abuja, Major Peter Janka (rtd), told a press conference at the weekend that the 9th Senate needs Ndume as it’s president to defend and project the executive desires of providing good governance to the citizenry.

Janka said the North East elders and stakeholders residing in the nation’ s capital decide to throw their weight and support behind the candidature is Senator Ndume, who he said, will be a synergy between the executive arm of government and the legislature.

While describing Ndume as an amiable politician, loyal and defender of party principles and ideology, he said, “Ndume has been tested and throughout his gestation period, he acted proudly to the admiration of party members, irrespective of geopolitical zone.

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“We don’t need to remind that while he held sway as the Senate leader, under his watch, all the bills and letters requesting for the Senate approval were defended stoutly by Ndume,” Janka said.

The forum said Ndume has remained a committed politician and a stabilising force in Borno state and the initiator of the North East Development Initiative which has been given legal teeth as a commission with the assent of the bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, making it a law to have it.

“His election as Senate president will indeed fast track reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of thousands displaced people in the country,” the forum stated.

In a separate briefing, the chairman of the national Councilors’ forum, North Central zone, Hon Dogara John Bassa said the forum was concerned over the build-up to the inauguration of the 9th Senate, as it simply amounts to imposition and disenfranchisement of qualified candidates from the ruling, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Bassa said, irrespective of who the party hierarchy feels is qualified, the National Councilors’ forum, North Central zone said Ndume should be given the chance to lead the 9th Senate.

“Our preference for Ndume is as a result of the need for an experienced captain that we believe will support, encourage and accelerate the achievements of the federal government,” he said.