Thousands of people from Borno South yesterday stormed the National Assembly, Abuja, protesting the suspension of their representative in the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume.
Similarly, hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the senator’s district also converged on the Unity Fountain, Abuja in protest over Ndume’s suspension.
The IDPs vowed to remain at the spot until their senator is recalled by the upper legislative chamber.
The Senate, last Wednesday, suspended Ndume for calling for investigation of alleged irregular importation of a N298 million bulletproof Range Rover with fake Customs documents. The vehicle had since been seized by the Customs.
Ndume also drew the attention of the Senate to the allegation of first degree certificate forgery against Senator Dino Malaye (Kogi West), as reported by an online publication, Saharareporters.
He was subsequently suspended for six months, ostensibly based on a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
His colleagues accused the Borno senator of unnecessarily distracting the attention of the Senate on allegations based on “rumours” and for failing to investigate the allegations before raising them on the floor of the Senate.
But the protesters, who carried placards with varied inscriptions, condemned the senator’s suspension, insisting that Ndume did not commit any offence against Saraki and Melaye.
Describing the suspension as illegal, undemocratic and self-serving, the protesters said Saraki “is a curse” to democracy.
Addressing reporters at the main entrance to the National Assembly, the leader of the protesters, Mr. Musa Ali, declared that the people of the senatorial district could not afford to have their senator stay suspended for six months.
According to Ali, the constituents have been benefitting hugely from the senator’s representation, adding that leaving him out in the cold for six months would be unbearable.
“We cannot allow our senator to be out for six months as annoyingly decided by the Senate last week. Where do the senators want IDPs, who have been surviving through Ndume’s magnanimity to run to? What about these hundreds of constituents benefitting from the senator? Where do they want them to run to?”
“Boko Haram insurgents pursued most of these people you are seeing away from their various homes in Southern Borno, but have been getting needed assistance and support from their senator, Ali Ndume, only for the Senate to now pursue their helper from his place of help. This to us is unacceptable and must be revisited by the Senate,” Ali declared.
The protesters later forwarded a protest letter to Saraki on behalf of the people of Southern Borno.
In the letter, the group called for urgent reconsideration of the senator’s suspension, describing the action as too injurious for the people of the zone to bear.
Also, the constituents from the IDP camp, who joined the protest from an IDPs camp in Wassa, Abuja, vowed not to return to the camp until Ndume’s suspension is lifted.
Their spokesperson, Mr. Kyellu Suleiman, said the IDPs would remain at the Unity Fountain Square until justice is done in the Ndume case.
The leadership of the Senate did not grant the protesters audience while the protest lasted. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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