APC, NNPP bicker over Ndume’s removal as chief whip

The leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party has raised concerns over the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as chief whip of the Senate last Wednesday.

Following his sack, Ndume was immediately replaced by the Senator representing Borno North, Tahir Monguno.

Ndume’s replacement by the Senate followed a directive issued to that effect in a letter written by the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje and National Secretary, Senator Bashir Ajibola.

The request was put to voice votes by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and loudly affirmed by all the APC senators.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson disclosed that they are happy Nigerians are beginning to see the true character of the ruling party unfolding.

He said, “That is the party at the centre, the APC playing their gymnastics. A party that does not believe in freedom of expression, even among its senior members; a party whose national chairman (Dr Abdullahi Ganduje) refused to obey a valid court summon. I am talking about himself and his family.

“This same party dares to tell Nigerians they believe in the rule of law. No, they don’t and that (sacking of Ndume) is what they are showing. Anyway, it is their internal problem or whatever they decide to call it.”

The NNPP’s criticism is coming in the wake of a similar condemnation by the leadership of the Labour Party.

Earlier, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, also voiced concerns that the APC government is fast becoming intolerant of the same system that brought it into power.

Ifoh stated that with Ndume’s removal as chief whip, speaking truth to power is gradually becoming a crime in the country.

According to him, the humiliation of Ndume by the Goodwill Akpabio’s led Senate has portrayed the dictatorial inclination of the APC.

The ruling APC, however, disagreed with the notions of the two opposition parties.

In an exclusive phone chat with our correspondent, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru said many people seemed to miss the point of why Ndume was removed.

He said, “The reality is that there was a concern whether as chief whip, he did not have access to the leadership of the country and the leadership of the party. We are unaware that he was denied the opportunity to meet with Mr President. He should be in a position to enjoy such liberty.

“It is only on that account if he had said that he is not enjoying that privilege, that it could be something to put on the table. But a blanket statement of him saying Mr President has become insular may be what informed the position of Senate to remove him from his position as chief whip of the party.”

Continuing, Duru disclosed that the fear that the APC government is beginning to wear a toga of a dictator is unfounded.

This was even as he maintained that the ruling party would always welcome constructive criticism from the opposition and aggrieved members of the public.

“We welcome every view, whether positive or contrary. It is the beauty of democracy. Parties must be allowed to ventilate their views and people must again be allowed to express their opinion on any matter, so long as it coheres to party discipline, and members interaction and ensuring that it does not disturb the cohesion within the party.

“As for the Labour Party and NNPP releasing statements, it is what an opposition should do. I am happy they are doing what they should do as an opposition party. If other parties release a statement in that account, again, it is what they should do as the opposition.

“But we are confident that as APC, given the fact that we took over power from a party that was in government in 2015, we would never do anything that would suggest a stifling of alternative views and constructive criticisms in Nigeria. We are noted for being a party that allows all shades of opinion to bloom and be canvassed.”