Drama Ensues in Senate As Suspended Ali Ndume Resumes Duty

Nigerian Senate

 

According to a The Nation report, the resumption of former Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume Wednesday did not go without drama after serving out 90 legislative days of suspension.The drama played out when Ndume in his usual boisterous manner raised a point of order to apparently announce his return to the chamber.

 

It was obvious that senators were wondering what the Borno South lawmaker wanted to say so soon after he was left off the hook.

 

Ndume surprised everybody in the chamber when he recalled the sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke (Osun West) whom he said sat behind him in the chamber.

 

Ndume who told his colleagues that he used to call Adeleke his “landlord” in the chamber prayed the Senate to observe a minute silence in honor of late senator.

 

Not done, Ndume also recalled the recently signed North East Development Commission Act.

 

The bill that led to the Act, he said, was spearheaded by him and Senator Kabiru Gaya to address the humanitarian crisis created by the activities of Boko Haram in the North East geo-political zone.

 

He thanked his colleagues for ensuring speedy passage of the bill and President Muhammadu Buhari for appreciating the necessity to sign the bill into law in record time.

 

While Ndume was marshaling his points, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) was gesturing at the background to raise another point of order.

 

It was not clear what Melaye (Kogi West) wanted to say but Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who might have sensed trouble, did not recognize him.

 

When Ndume was done, Saraki simple ruled that “the points made by Ndume are noted” and quickly moved on to other legislative matters listed for the day.

 

At a press briefing, Ndume said that he went to court to challenge his suspension to seek clarification on the position of the law about the way and manner the Senate suspended him.

 

The lawmaker said that he did not go to court for any personal benefit but to seek clarification in the interest of democracy.

 

He insisted that there was nothing personal about his suspension neither is he holding anybody responsible for his suspension.

 

He also said that he went to court to test the law in defense of democracy and reiterated that he does not begrudge anybody over his suspension.

 

He noted that the court had since declared his suspension as illegal, null, void, and of no effect.

 

Ndume who added that the Senate has signaled its intention to appeal the court ruling declared “we will watch how it goes.”

“There was nothing about what happened. I did not see anything personal; I did not take anything personal. I don’t begrudge anybody but if there is anybody who took personal leave that to God,” he said.