Ali Ndume Might Be Forgiven – Bukola Saraki

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, during an interview recently, hinted that Senator Ali Ndume might be forgiven.

Ndume was suspended by the Senate plenary for accusing Saraki falsely.

The Governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima recently met with the Senate President to plead on Ndume’s behalf.

According to Daily Trust, Saraki said “All I can say is that this Senate has a large heart. We used to have dissenting voices before but we are now back as one family. Sooner or later we may have a political solution somewhere and Ndume may be back in the fold.”

Speaking on the legality of Ndume’s suspension, the Senate President also said “Again, we followed the process. He came on a matter of privilege.

“The matter was referred to Ethics Committee, which is our body that looks into behaviours, petitions, etc. They reviewed it; we all went and made our case before them, they listened to everybody and reached their conclusion.

“They submitted their report, it was debated, and a decision was taken. I do not know of any law or any rule that was disregarded by the Senate. Due process was followed. It is not the first time that a member of the Senate or the House was suspended.

“ I think right now there is a member of the House who is on suspension for a year or so, so when people get up and say nobody can be suspended for more than two weeks…Of course there are always interests.

“If I am from Borno South, of course I want my representative back but if you give a committee an assignment and they do it and Senate takes a decision based on it, I think we should respect that.”

A group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Borno State recently said that they have no sympathy for Senator Ali Ndume despite his suspension by the Senate.