Ndume accepts fate, warns that Ekweremadu maybe removed

Ebun Francis

Senator Ali Ndume, the deposed leader of the senate Wednesday morning decried the way in which he was removed as leader saying it could be anybody next. Ndume who spoke on the floor of the senate frowned at the manner he was removed while he went to pray.

The former senate Leader said that he had accepted the decision of the Senators but warned that anybody including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu could be next.

According to him, “I was not found wanting for anything that I know.

“Because of the unity of this senate that is more important than myself three times I offered to resign and if that will bring peace but I believe that God’s time is the best.

“You are one of those that even warn me here to stop saying that I will resign, but yesterday I was not around change of leadership was announced.

“In fact if the number of those that lost confidence in me is not up to this number and I am made to know I will resign because I did not become a senate leader in other to lose confidence of any of you.

“I am concerned about the loss of confidence because as far as I know I have not done anything.

“But then just like that the Senate caucus has the right to say we have lost confidence in you and I think that should be now that I have said it I think it’s on record that I did not do anything, non to the best of my knowledge.

“If today, just like that without telling somebody and he goes out, If it is Ndume today and it’s ok it may be God forbid Ekweremadu tomorrow,” he said.

Ndume stressed that it would have been better if he were confronted with the allegation rather than taking such a decision in his absence.

“When I was nominated as the Senate leader I said one thing at that time and I want to repeat today that as a Senator I am not better than anybody here and I also want to believe that all of us are equal in this senate.

“I thank God for the way and the courage God given me to carry-on with my responsibility for the time one and half years that God said is my time as the senate leader.

“So, I want to thank unanimously especially my colleagues for the confidence you had in me.

“I thank God that throughout my service as the senate leader, most of the times my colleagues casually will say leader we are proud of you,

“This Senate is an institutions that we must protect. How do you protect the institution is to obey the rules and the tradition.

“So, what I am saying is that anytime our colleagues erred in one way or the other we should be given the chance to say look this is what we did and therefore we have lost confidence in you.

“But I thank God since there is nothing and I am grateful for that.

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu who presided over plenary, in his response, thanked Ndume for his service as leader.

“You were a member of the House of Representatives leadership at some point, you came to the senate and also held very important committee assignments and then rose to become the senate leader.

“Those are services  we cannot wish away, so we would like to congratulate you for the manner you have accepted the position of things and I will like to assure you that we would all continue to work harmoniously in the best interest of our country.

“I do hope that you continue also to render your services not only to this senate but also our people.