The crowd that stormed the premises of the National Assembly in protest over the suspension of former Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume hardened the Senate against mentioning, let alone debate the planned move to recall him.
The Senate concluded plenary without mentioning the issue of his recall. Senate President, Bukola Saraki had told journalists at the weekend that though it was not in his powers to recall the suspended Senator, the upper chamber might look into the matter today.
But the rabble appears to have stalled the move, as Senators were said to have turned their backs on it to prevent what some referred to as “setting of a bad precedent by allowing the members to be intimidated by the protesters”
The protesters who were chanting pro-Ndume war songs had barricaded the main entrance to the National Assembly as early as 8.am and later gave the National Assembly three days ultimatum to recall Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno).
Numbering hundreds and made up of groups including Internally Displaced Persons from Borno, All Progressives Congress Movement, APCM, they carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Ndume again Insha Allah’’, “ who is Afraid of Ibrahim Magu’’, “ Stop undermining PMB’’ and “Saraki is a curse”.
Mr Joseph Okwuama, national coordinator of APCM, told newsmen that if Ndume was not recalled, they would stage several protests across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for seven days.
He said: “We are talking about corruption in the country. As Nigerian youths, we have to work together in support of the anti-corruption war.
“Corruption is not all about money. What the National Assembly did is corruption. The suspension of Ndume is corruption.
“Ndume’s suspension did not follow due process. The man did not do anything.
“We are giving the National Assembly three days and if they refuse Nigerians will go to the streets of Abuja and protest for one week.
Muhammad Tanko, leader of indigenes from Borno South, Ndume’s constituency, said the constituency could not afford not to have representation for six months.
“The suspension of our senator for six months by the Senate is illegal when the constitution allows for suspension of only 14 days,’’ he said.
Naima Sale, wife of the Chairman, IDPs in Karama Jiji Camp in the FCT, pitched in and recounted how the Ndume had been helping them and for that reason he should be pardoned.
It later turned out that there were others in the crowd who were no lovers of Senator Ndume.
The group, which came from Kuchingoro IDP camp in Abuja thanked the Senate for clamping the suspension order on Ndume, claiming that he, like other members of the National Assembly from Borno, had never identified with their plight despite been invited to do so.
They thanked Senator Dino Melaye for reprieving them with foodstuff and other goodies.
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