•Tinubu and Ndume
A non-partisan group, known as Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) has thrown its weight behind Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and the Chief Whip at the Senate who appeared last Thursday on Arise TV where he said, there is much hunger in the land under the present administration of Renewed Hope Agenda.
Senator Ndume, who represents Southern Borno at the Red Chamber also said that, despite hunger and insecurity bedeviling the nation, it has been very difficult for some Ministers, Special Advisers, and other appointees of the federal government to have access to Mr. President.
In a press statement signed and issued to newsmen today by the Coordinator of the CNF, Mallam Abdulkadir Kura, revealed that the group has no linkage with Senator Ndume, as it is non-political, but it will always stand for any Northerner who has courage in defending the masses, as enshrined in the constitution of the NCF.
Kura insisted that Senator Ndume has spoken the minds of average Nigerians who have been under serious economic hardship since the removal of the fuel subsidy and other anti-people policies of the present administration.
The group also called on all and sundry to resort to prayers for God Almighty to have mercy on the land and rescue Nigerians from the clutches of ‘Hunger and Insecurity’ that have characterized the whole system.
“We members of CNF deem it necessary to address some of the issues that surrounded the interview Senator Ndume had with Arise TV last Thursday.
“In that interview, Ndume came clear without recourse to political affiliation and said nothing but the truth.
“Although, this was not the first time the Chief Whip criticized or challenged the policies of the federal government, as he has done so consistently during the past administration of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, such criticisms by Ndume have led to positive changes by the listening governments at that time.
“Presently, it is true that millions of Nigerians cannot even have two square meals a day due to exorbitant rises in the prices of foods items such as common Gari, Maize, tomatoes, etc, and most importantly, people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed due to insecurity, such as kidnapping, Banditry, terrorism among other criminalities in the land.
“We however found it unfortunate and condemnable that some people, particularly those who have been milking from the national cake under the present administration join forces in attacking Ndume’s truthful and realistic statement on the current situation in the land.
“It is on record that Ndume is a critical stakeholder of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and a close ally of President Tinubu, therefore, if he can take such a bold step in saying the truth about the economic and social reality on the ground, then the Southern Borno Senator need to be celebrated by all and sundry, just like the NCF strongly backed him in all ramifications.
“The Group assured all Nigerians that it will resist any attempt or threat to attack or harm Senator Ndume, as any such move will not be tolerated.
“We also call on all and sundry to resort to prayers for God Almighty to have mercy on the land and rescue Nigerians from the clutches of Hunger and Insecurity that have characterized the whole system,” the statement said.
On claims by some people who alleged that Ndume has not performed well to the people of his constituents, the NCF described such allegations as baseless and unfounded, as it is on records, that Ndume was behind the establishment of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) and the Federal College of Education Gwoza, in addition to numerous people-oriented projects such as drilling of boreholes, provision of agricultural inputs, construction of healthcare facilities and classroom blocks.
Besides these achievements, Ndume has within his last 100 Days in office delivered 20 people-oriented projects in the areas of agriculture, health, education, energy, palliatives, sports, and roads among others across the Southern Borno Senatorial District.
To this end, the NCF Coordinator reiterated that people devoid of any political sentiment should recognize that Senator Ndume’s criticism is not an attack, but a call for immediate and effective action to address pressing issues that are against the Renewed Hope Agenda.
