By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume has maintained his stand on his recent comments on the planned relocation of the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria from Abuja to Lagos.
Ndume had in an interview with Channels Television recently said the action would have political consequences for President Bola Tinubu.
He said his disagreement with the planned relocation was borne out of his patriotism to tell Tinubu the truth about the whole arrangements.
The Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, and a former presidential spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe cautioned Ndume saying his comments were capable of ignition crisis.
But Ndume said yesterday that it would be unpatriotic not to tell President Tinubu the truth about the happenings in the country.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had earlier announced they would be taking some critical departments to Lagos on the claims they want to decongest its offices in Abuja.
Specifically, CBN said the departments for relocation are the Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department, and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
The plans by CBN and FAAN elicited condemnation from different quarters, especially from the Northern Apex socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
But speaking on a live Television programme on Tuesday, Ndume, who is representing Borno South at the Senate said President Tinubu is being ill-advised by “Lagos boys” in the corridors of power.
“All these Lagos boys who are thinking that Lagos is Nigeria are just misinforming and advising the President wrongly,” Ndume was quoted as saying.
While former presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe, and Ndume’s colleague, Sunday Karimi earlier disassociated themselves from the Borno lawmaker’s comment, Okupe backtracked, stating that Ndume mean well for the country.
Karimi said Ndume didn’t speak on behalf of the Northern Senators but Okupe was quick to state that he is impressed with the disposition, candour, and loyalty of Ndume to his party and Mr President.
Responding to Karimi’s comment, Ndume said he did not speak on behalf of the Northern Senators or the Senate but as a Northerner in support of the majority of Northerners and some Nigerians who are against the action of CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
He said, “With all due respect, I did not speak on behalf of the Northern Senators or the Senate, but as a Northerner in support of the majority of Northerners and some Nigerians who are against the action of CBN Governor and the Minister of Aviation.
“A famous former American President said: Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he stands by the country.
“It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise, he fails in his duty to stand by the country.
“In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else,” Ndume said.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile but is morally treasonable to the American public. What I said is my personal opinion and position.”
