Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume has challenged political leaders to measure their performance by results, saying public office should be about service, accountability and solving people’s problems rather than the pursuit of money and political positions.

His comments come as proposed erosion-control projects estimated at ₦66bn across Southern Borno await final approval from President Bola Tinubu, while a bill to establish a Federal College of Agriculture in Shani seeks to clear the remaining legislative hurdles.

About ₦6bn is proposed for erosion-control work in the Aguza area, according to the account of Ndume’s remarks.
The projects remain proposals pending the stated presidential approval.
Details of their funding arrangements and implementation timelines have yet to be established in the information available.

Ndume said effective leadership requires experience, patience, cooperation and a clear understanding of legislative procedures.
“I have seen how the legislature works, and I know that delivering results often requires patience, cooperation and a clear understanding of parliamentary procedures,” he said.
“We must work together instead of allowing personal ambitions to divide us.”

The senator criticised politicians who focus on personal gains while neglecting the people who elected them.
“Politics should not be reduced to the struggle for positions or the pursuit of money,” he said.
“Unfortunately, some politicians focus more on what they can gain personally than on what they can do for the people who elected them.”
He also faulted leaders who have the resources to help their constituents but fail to use them to address community needs.

For communities in Southern Borno, the proposed erosion-control projects will provide a practical test of that argument. Their impact will depend on approval, funding and actual implementation.
The proposed Federal College of Agriculture in Shani presents another test of the drive to attract development to the area.

The bill, sponsored by Ndume, has passed the Senate but still requires concurrence by the House of Representatives and completion of the remaining constitutional steps before the institution can be established under the law.
Chairman of Borno Mega Shani, Musa Lawal Lubo, led a delegation to thank Ndume for sponsoring the bill, following a directive from the Emir of Shani.

Lubo said Shani had land and facilities suitable for the proposed institution. He appealed to the Borno State Government to help facilitate its establishment.
He said the college could expand educational opportunities, develop agricultural skills and support local economic activity.

The delegation’s visit also highlighted the community’s political position ahead of the 2027 general election.
Lubo said the community intended to continue supporting Ndume and its representative in the House of Representatives because, in its assessment, their work had contributed to local development.
“We cannot tell anybody not to contest, but we have told you the direction of our community,” he said.
Other speakers included the representative of the Emir, Sarkin Yaki (Hani), Alhaji Haruna Adam, and the President of the Shani Emirate Development Association, Mamman Walama.

Ndume’s legislative experience spans more than two decades. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and entered the Senate in 2011 to represent Borno South.

Although he has not spent 50 years in the Senate, his long service in the National Assembly informs his argument that delivering results requires an understanding of parliamentary processes and cooperation.
For Southern Borno, the immediate priorities are clear: the proposed erosion-control projects must secure approval and move towards implementation, while the Shani agriculture college must complete the remaining legislative process.

Ultimately, political experience and promises will be judged by tangible improvements in people’s lives, not simply by announcements, bills or political endorsements.