Senator Ali Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, has issued an apology to the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) for failing to consult the party before publicly criticizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, acknowledged his mistake during a meeting with APC officials.
“Yesterday I was invited by the party and here I am to discuss family matters with what has happened which you are all aware, actually the national chairman is not just a national chairman to me but a father,” Ndume said.
He continued, “It is not surprising that I was invited to hear my side and we had family discussions. I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I promised the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended with the party.”
Despite his apology, Ndume maintained that his criticisms were driven by patriotism.
“But whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism and those issues may be said strong but they are true but then I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop,” he added.
Ndume’s criticism of President Tinubu led to his removal from his position as Chief Whip and replacement by Senator Mohammed Monguno. The APC had earlier sent a letter, signed by National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, directing the Senate to sanction Ndume for not using party channels to address his grievances before going public.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ndume had alleged that President Tinubu was being misled by forces within the Presidential Villa, who were preventing him from hearing the truth from well-meaning Nigerians.
His statements resulted in his removal from key positions within the National Assembly and from his role as a committee chairman.