Politics

Why Senators are angry with Akpabio — Ndume

Senator representing Borno South and Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume has said the perceived overbearing posture of President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio during plenary session was responsible for the seeming rumblings in the Red Chamber.

He made the disclosure at the weekend while featuring on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics.

Ndume who noted that President of the Senate often took advantage of the gavel to silence lawmakers desirous of making meaningful contributions during plenary cited a recent incident where he exited from the chamber while plenary session was ongoing.

The Senate Chief Whip who claimed that his action was misunderstood, however, foreclosed impeachment plot against Senator Akpabio despite reservations about his handling of plenary sessions.

He said: “I don’t have a problem with Akpabio. My problem? Maybe the way he handled the situation. What happened the last time I think was misunderstood or taken out of context.

“Don’t forget I came here to campaign for Akpabio. I can’t build a house and destroy it, but I think the main problem is that I am more experienced than him and when I try to correct him, sometimes like that incident, he overruled me! You can’t overrule your Chief Whip!! No. I am supposed to be the one to call him to order, not him. On that day, he was supposed to invite me and we would talk one-on-one but he took advantage of the gavel.”

On plot to impeach Akpabio, Ndume said, ” I am hearing that but it isn’t new . But it isn’t likely to happen; I can tell you that.”

Speaking on the fight against corruption, Senator Ndume restated his call for the President to initiate an Executive Order Bill on Unexplained Wealth.

“I have tried several times but you know, the excuse here and there. I think the best way to get this across is when the bill comes from the executive. I think the current president should sign an executive bill on unexplained wealth.

“I have tried several times but you know, there were excuses here and there.

“I think the best way to get this across is when the bill comes from the executive or in the interim, the current president should sign an executive bill on unexplained wealth.”

According to Ndume, the level of unexplained wealth in the country especially among politicians and civil servants requires some laws to combat it.

“I know of civil servants that live in houses that not only their income, their salaries, or their life pension – assuming they would live in this world for 90 years or 100 years – cannot buy.

“The same thing with some of our politicians especially the politically exposed persons like ministers, you find as you rightly said, some of them come to the National Assembly, and suddenly, there is so much money.”

Amidst the sustained criticisms trailing purchase of Sports Utility Vehicles, (2023model) at a cost of N160million for 107 Senators, Ndume argued the lawmakers needed durable automobiles that would enable them to do their work effectively.

“We should look at the cost implication and the alternatives. For me, the issues that are being raised, the public has a right to do that, but for me, I come to serve and in serving the people, my major constitutional role is over- sighting, and making laws.

“If I have to do that, effectively, then I need a vehicle that will enable me do that. That is the idea of buying the vehicles. And over the years the cost of the vehicles have gone up.”

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE