From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former national vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (North West), Salihu Moh Lukman, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of reducing the upper chambers to the status of a parastatal of government following removal of Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume.
Lukman noted that the APC, its leadership and the President Bola Tinubu-led government have taken a self-destructive path, equivalent to declaration of working to the end of their tenure in 2027.
In a statement yesterday, the former director general of the APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), frowned at the letter from the national leadership of the ruling to the leadership of the Senate demanding Ndume’s removal over allegation that he had been making uncouth and rabid outbursts against the government before the international and before the global community.
According to him, “it is a shame that the APC Senate Caucus will permit such an act of illegality. By so doing, they have set a precedent that will further erode the independence of the National Assembly.
“Already, with the way Godswill Akpabio has been conducting himself, almost reducing the Senate Chamber to the status of a parastatal of government, the action of the APC under the leadership of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to direct removal of principal officers for criticising President Tinubu’s government highlight the fanatical mindset undermining Nigerian democracy.
“Ndume being the newest APC orphan is welcomed to join the effort of political leaders in the country to restore and rebuild our democracy. So long as APC, its leadership and Tinubu’s government have taken the self-destructive path, which is equivalent to a declaration of working to end their tenure in 2027, patriotic Nigerians must help them to ensure their defeat in 2027,” Lukman said.
He also took a swipe at the leadership of the APC, emphasising that instead of sanctioning Ndume for the ‘uncouth and rabid outburst’ he made, the party would have set up a committee to appraise his allegations.
“In an ideal democratic setting where the organs of the party are functioning, a competent organ of the party would have been convened to deliberate on the issues raised by Sen. Ndume. In fact, if the organs of the party are functioning, instead of raising the issues in a television station, the issue would have been raised at a meeting of a competent organ of the party.
“Such a competent organ would have been the National Caucus, National Executive Committee (NEC) or National Advisory Council. Rule of fair hearing would have required that Ndume or anybody making such weighty allegations is invited and called upon to explain. The truth is, if organs of the party were functioning, the problem of lack of access to the President wouldn’t have arisen,” Lukman insisted.