LP alerts Ndume’s sack shows Tinubu sinking Nigeria deeper, where even journalists are scared of reporting facts
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senator Ali Ndume’s removal as Senate Chief Whip has been condemned by the Labour Party (LP), citing the dictatorial trajectory of Bola Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (AC).
Ndume (APC, Borno South) was sacked on Wednesday – days after criticising the President for being “caged” by “certain forces” insulating him from the cries of hunger nationwide – and was immediately replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North).
The political coup followed a directive in a letter written to the Senate by APC National Chairman Umar Ganduje and National Secretary Bashir Ajibola.
The request was put to a voice vote at plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and loudly affirmed by all APC Senators.
LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh expressed concern that speaking truth to power is gradually becoming a crime in Nigeria.
He lamented the humiliation of Ndume by a Senate led by Akpabio shows the dictatorial nature of both Tinubu and the APC.
“The crime of Senator Ndume was his bold expression of his concerns regarding the escalating cost of living and food scarcity in Nigeria and his revelation that President Bola Tinubu has chosen to play the ostrich even in the face of acute starvation being witnessed in Nigeria,” Ifoh said in a statement.
“The dimension this administration has taken is grave. A few months ago, Senator Abdul Ningi exposed the rot in the government where the Senate leadership and the executive collaborators allegedly padded the budget. That got him suspended and intimidated out of his lawful representative role as a senator.
“It is needless talking about the economic crisis ongoing in Nigeria even where a few cabal members are massively enriching themselves. The National Bureau of Statistics recently said that food inflation has risen to 40.66 per cent.
“Even with all these glaring challenges, the government is said to have paid about N150b for a presidential jet and building roads that have no direct bearing on the economic crises in Nigeria.
“The media practitioners are recoiling into their sheds for fear of reporting the facts about this government for fear of emasculation and incarceration.
“This is a tyranny of a cabal against a legislative autonomy. Nigeria is gradually descending into dictatorship and we are calling on the citizens to be on an alert and put up a defence against the starvation weapon being deployed by this administration.”
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