By Henry Gabriel
In a surprising turn of events, Senator Ali Ndume was recently ousted as the Chief Whip of the Senate and asked to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking speculations about President Bola Tinubu’s intentions for a single term in office.
Elanza News reports that the decision to remove Ndume and appoint Senator Tahir Monguno as his replacement came through a letter from APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Basiru Ajibola.
Allegedly, Ndume’s outspoken criticism of the president led to his removal.
Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the APC, expressed his concerns in a statement titled “Fanatical Mindset.”
Lukman highlighted the growing suppression of free speech in the country, drawing comparisons to the oppressive Abacha era.
He lamented the erosion of personal liberties and the lack of fair hearing, stating that Nigeria has a democracy without true democrats.
Lukman pointed out that the APC Constitution does not grant the National Chairman, National Secretary, or any official the authority to unilaterally remove a principal officer of the National Assembly.
He criticized the APC Senate Caucus for allowing this act of illegality, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the independence of the National Assembly.
“The current situation suggests that President Asiwaju Tinubu may have decided to limit himself to a single term in office,” Lukman stated.
He criticized the worsening living conditions in Nigeria and the government’s failure to address the situation with clear plans.
Lukman emphasized the importance of a democracy that can accommodate criticism and uphold fair hearing, stating that any democracy that fails to do so becomes a dictatorship.
Concluding his statement, Lukman urged patriotic Nigerians to ensure the defeat of the APC and Tinubu’s government in the 2027 elections, viewing their actions as self-destructive and detrimental to the nation.
