Ndume’s removal: Tinubu has lost his credentials as a democrat – Lukman

After Senator Ali Ndume’s removal as the Chief Whip of the Senate many Nigerians have reacted.

Specifically, the immediate past National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Moh Lukman, has used that opportunity to berate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of APC.

Lukman said that the truth of the matter is that President Tinubu has lost his credentials of being a democrat, a progressive politician and an Awoist.

Lukman, in a statement, noted that Ndume removal as Chief Whip of the Senate and replaced with Sen. Tahir Monguno followed a directive contained in a letter sent to APC Caucus in the Senate signed by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Sen. Basiru Ajibola, APC National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

“Somehow, the letter directing the removal of Sen. Ndume confirmed the allegations of a government of Kakistocrat. Dr. Ganduje and Sen. Ajibola and perhaps a small group of party leaders who have caged the President usurped the powers of organs of the APC and proceeded to pass judgement on Sen. Ndume.

“It is very doubtful if members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party are given the benefit of being part of those who took the decision to remove Sen. Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate.

“It is also doubtful if members of the APC Caucus in the Senate are consulted before the decision is taken to both remove Sen. Ndume and appoint Sen. Monguno as his replacement. It is simply an action taken by party leaders with fanatical mindset of blocking any attempt to scrutinise the President and actions being taken either directly by him or by his representatives, in whatever guise.

“Beyond issues of fair hearing, the substantive allegation made by Sen. Ndume is that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is inaccessible. Those he refers to as Kakistocrats and Kleptocrats have caged the President so much so that even Ministers are not able to access him. These are not new allegations.”

Lukman added that “the way the government is being managed is quite worrisome. Anybody who knows Asiwaju Tinubu and how he has operated throughout his political life, will certainly know that it is unlike Asiwaju Tinubu to be insular.

“Many of the decisions taken betrays the true Asiwaju Tinubu. For instance, it is doubtful if Asiwaju Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State for eight years has had any instance of reversing any of the decisions he took. But as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the last one year, Nigerians are beginning to lose count of the number of decisions he took and ended up reversing them.”

Lukman further said: “Unlike the true Asiwaju Tinubu who as Governor of Lagos State was surrounded by competent and visionary appointees, he is surrounded by third rated appointees or Kakistocrats as rightly described by Sen. Ndume. A vintage Asiwaju Tinubu, confronted by the kind allegations coming from Sen. Ndume would have publicly engaged Sen. Ndume and proved him wrong.

“It is debatable whether after proving him wrong he will call for his removal. By extension, therefore, it is also contestable if a normal Asiwaju Tinubu would have allowed the organs of the party to have been demobilised in the manner that is being done now. The truth is, President Asiwaju Tinubu has lost his credentials of being a democrat, a progressive politician and an Awoist. That is the main essence of the criticism made by Sen. Ndume.”

Lukman noted that nowhere in the Constitution of APC where the National Chairman, National Secretary, or any official, or even the National Working Committee is given the powers to summarily remove any principal officer of the National Assembly, adding that it is a shame that the APC Senate Caucus will permit such an act of illegality.

He said: “By so doing, they have set a precedence that will further erode the independence of the National Assembly.”

Lukman lamented that there is a big difference between the old Asiwaju Tinubu, who was the Governor of Lagos State and was as an astute politician, constantly engaging and having strong relationship with people, from the Asiwaju Tinubu who is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the last one year, who has become insular and inaccessible.

“Decisions taken in the last one year have betrayed the progressive orientation envisioned when APC was formed, or even any claimed Awoist credentials. In fact, it is very embarrassing that there is very weak correlation with even the campaign promise made by President Asiwaju Tinubu as contained in the Renewed Hope 2023, which was the campaign document of President Asiwaju Tinubu,” he said.