Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has refuted allegations that he’s planned an attack on Daniel Bwala, a former aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Bwala, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Borno State, who joined the PDP to work for Atiku and recently defected back to APC, had, in his X post, tweeted that Ndume was planning to mobilize youths in their local government area, Hawui, to attack him (both Bwala and Ndume hail from the same constituency).
But Ndume dismissed the allegation as childish, asserting that the former Atiku aide lacks political significance and is not popular in their hometown, Hawui.
“Ordinarily, I would not want to engage in this matter or respond to Mr. Bwala, who claims to be from Hawui Local Government, which is part of my constituency. I can describe Daniel Bwala as a failed politician making noise in Abuja,” Ndume lashed out.
“Bwala was once a member of the APC but later shamelessly switched allegiance to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He then started hurling various accusations and insults at Tinubu on live television. Bwala is only useful for attacking people, but with the 2027 general elections approaching, my advice to him is to come to Borno and reconnect with his roots.”
Ndume also issued a stern warning regarding Bwala’s character, advising President Tinubu to be cautious.
“The only advice I can give to Tinubu is to be careful with individuals like Bwala,” he said.
Senator Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip was due to internal party conflicts, his public dissent on key issues and perceived insubordination within the ruling party.
Not convinced that Ndume had done any wrong to warrant his being removed as the Senate Chief Whip, a group of Borno State indigenes recently staged a protest to the National Assembly calling for Ndume reinstatement, saying that he was removed for speaking truth to power about the sufferings of Nigerians.
But Ndume, a vocal if not controversial Senator from Borno South Senatorial District, took his fate with equanimity, hinting that he would remain in APC as long as the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum is still in the party.
Addressing some groups of women supporters, who vowed to stage a peaceful protest at the National Assembly against his removal as Chief Whip of the Senate, at his residence in Maiduguri on Thursday last week, Ndume said: “On the call by APC National Working Committee (NWC) that I should leave the party and join any other political party, let me say that, it is only God that gives power to whom He wishes.
“And so, I want to categorically state that I am one of the founding members of the APC. Our Leader, Governor Zulum, is in APC, and wherever our Governor is, that is where I belong.”
