All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Borno South on Friday charged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to restore Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume to his position as Chief Whip.

They expressed support for Ndume for speaking truth to power, noting that there was absolutely nothing wrong with his decision to draw President Bola Tinubu’s attention to the hardship being faced by fellow citizens.

Spokesperson for the APC leaders at a press conference in Abuja, Baba Ahmed Mustapha, said: “We call on the leadership of the APC and the Senate to reinstate Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate. Ndume has no plans to leave the party and we therefore urge them to reinstate him.”

They also condemned a recent verbal attack against Ndume by one Mr. Daniel Bwala. Mustapha added: “We appreciate and respect Daniel Bwala’s right to express his opinion on any issue as guaranteed by the constitution just as the senator when he knew that the observations made are within the bounds of the constitution.

“As a learned lawyer, he knew that the provision of Section 39, which guarantees the freedom of expression is applicable to all citizens. We make no excuses for the senator. As a being, he has deficiencies. As a politician, he may not have lived up to people’s expectations.”

But we are proud that he has stood up to be counted when it matters most. “He refused to behave like the ostrich, who, seeing the approaching storm, buries its head in the sand. His statement was made within the context of a call for a proactive action by the government rather than an instigation against it. He would have kept silent and enjoy the privileges bestowed by his office.

“Daniel Bwala has taken upon responsibility of denigrating the senator and accusing him of not living up to the expectations of his constituents including grandstanding. We can present no better and stronger proof other than his consistent elections as a member of the House of Representatives and later on as a senator since 2003.

“The senator has empowered many constituents but as a person not being given to public and private display of generosity, the impacts of his empowerment programmes have been manifest in his consistent re-election.

“There can be no better testimony than this. If Daniel Bwala feels otherwise, he is free to brave the field. After all, 2027 is not far.”