Suspended former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has ruled out tendering unreserved apology in order for him to be recalled. He told reporters after an interactive session with of his constituents in Abuja on Sunday that there was no basis to ask him to apologise since he did not do anything to warrant his suspension in the first place. He was handed six months suspension on March 29, 2017 over allegation that he breached Senate rules by drawing attention of the upper chamber to allegation of purchase of exotic car for the Senate President with forged customs papers and the certificate scandal against Senator Dino Melaye.
The Senate specifically blamed him for not “conducting due diligence” before bringing the matter to the floor. The Borno South senator however said that though he is not averse to tendering apology where there is need to do so, there was nothing for him to apologise for. He insisted that he did not offend the standing rules of the Senate. The leadership of the upper chamber was reported last week to have asked Ndume to apologise to pave the way for his recall. Ndume said, “The move for apology was made but I did not do anything to warrant an apology. I have no problem with apology but you have to apologise for something you did.
“The issues I raised were put to rest after I raised them. The issue of importation of car was put to rest. The certificate issue was also put to rest. It was because I raised the issues. Perhaps if I did not raise them, the issues may have lingered. “I did not do anything so there is no basis for me to tender any apology.” Ndume also said that the resolution to investigate the issues was not his but a Senate resolution.
He added, “The whole thing will come and go. It will pass away. It is part of the challenge a politician go through. My challenge in the Senate now is temporary. It should not stop me from do what have been doing for my constituents. It is very temporary.
Post a Comment