By Abdul Kareem

In a surprising turn of events, Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has been removed as the chief whip of the Senate by the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision came as a result of alleged hurtful comments made by Ndume against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The APC, in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requested Ndume’s resignation from the party and his removal as chief whip.

The party accused Ndume of making uncouth and damaging remarks before the international community, which they claim are harmful to the government’s image and its efforts to attract foreign direct investments. As a result, the APC nominated Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno of Borno North to replace Ndume as the chief whip of the Senate.

Despite this setback, Ndume has been appointed as the chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism by Senate President Akpabio. This new role signifies a shift in responsibilities for Ndume, who will now focus on overseeing matters related to tourism in the country.

In his previous remarks that led to his removal as chief whip, Ndume criticized the government’s closed-door policy, alleging that some ministers and lawmakers were unable to reach President Tinubu to address issues such as economic hardship and hunger in the country. These comments seem to have sparked controversy within the APC and ultimately led to Ndume’s removal from his previous position.

As Ndume takes on his new role as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, it remains to be seen how he will navigate this change and contribute to the development of the tourism sector in Nigeria. With his experience and leadership skills, Ndume has the opportunity to make a positive impact in this new capacity and promote tourism as a key driver of economic growth and development in the country.

The embattled Senator has not responded to this disgraceful demotion yet. And it is not certain if he would hearken to the directive of the APC leadership that he should also resign from the party.