Courage in leadership
For 21 years, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume has been a federal legislator, having served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011, and at the Senate from 2011 till date. His term as a Senator representing Borno South has been quite eventful.
At different times, he served as the Senate Leader, Chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, and Senate Chief Whip, among others.
Sen. Ali Ndume’s trade mark has been speaking truth to power. Twice in his political career in the Senate, he was suspended for speaking his mind and standing by what he believes is for public good.
In July last year, he was suspended by the Senate for pointing out that President Bola Tinubu was not aware of the pervasive hunger and poverty ravaging the land. The punitive action taken by the leadership of the Senate, which felt that as a party member, Ndume shouldn’t have criticised the president, did not deter him from speaking out about other issues of national importance that required urgent government action, like insecurity across the country.
In 2017, Sen. Ali Ndume was also suspended by the Senate for calling for the investigation of allegations of importation of bulletproof cars without valid documents by two senior member of the Senate. He stood his grounds insisting that the Senate should not be subjected to ridicule by allowing such grave allegations to go uninvestigated.
As a public office holder, particularly a Senator, he has never shied away from speaking the truth irrespective of his political affiliation and personal interests. Under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, he spoke vehemently against the president’s style of leadership, pointing out fundamental issues that needed to be dealt with by the administration.
What he has done under the Tinubu administration is not different. For instance, he has been very vocal about the negative impacts of the tax regime of the government, canvassing the view that the masses should be allowed to breathe in the face of excruciating economic pains.
For these, the Board of Editors chose him as winner of The Sun Courage in Leadership Award for 2024.