* I Won't Step Down, Ndume Insists

Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos


Ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, a frontline contender for the position of Senate presidency has vowed not to withdraw from the race, saying he will pursue his aspiration to a logical conclusion.

This is as Senator Danjuma Goje on Thursday withdrew from the contest and has now declared support for the ambition of Senator Ahmad Lawan, who is the adopted candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking with Daily Independent, Ndume, a former leader of the Senate, said nobody is mounting pressure on him to withdraw from the race, adding that he is in the race to win.

Ndume, who said that his decision to contest for the Senate presidency is informed by his conviction to contribute his quota to nation building, said if he loses at the end of the day, he will support his opponent, Lawan, and also expects Lawan to support him if he triumphs.

He said their ultimate goal is to work for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and also make laws that will impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.

“Nobody has talked to me and there is no need for that. It is not true that they are mounting pressure on people. It is lobbying and other things that can be done.

“As for me, it has gotten out of my hand now. It is no longer my own decision because the decision to contest was not my own. So, if there is anything, I have to consult and so far, I am in the race.

“By God’s grace, it is either me or Ahmad Lawan. I am not stepping down. This is democracy. If Lawan wins at the end of the day, I will support him and if I win, I expect that he will support me. Our goal is to support the government of Mr. President and work for Nigerians”, Ndume said.

Daily Independent gathered that Goje’s endorsement of Lawan for the top position of the upper chamber came after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Senator-elect, Uba Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) and Ahmad Lawan.

Daily Independent in its May 10 edition had predicted that Goje, who is having a running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not contest for the number three position in the 9th National Assembly.

It also said the contest will be a two-horse race between Lawan and Ndume.

Sources had before now told Daily Independent that Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe Central, may have technically withdrawn from the race due to his travails in the hands of the EFCC.

The anti-graft agency, which is prosecuting Goje on an amended N5 billion fraud charge, had last month appealed the judgment of a Federal High Court in Gombe, which partially upheld a no-case submission against Goje, a two-time governor of the state.

A ranking senator, Goje had said he would formally declare for the position of Senate President after the passage of the 2019 budget, saying he delayed his declaration because of his commitment towards the quick passage of this year’s budget which was before his committee.

Ten days after the passage of the budget, Goje is yet to make his intention known while many groups have been mounting pressure on him to do so.

“Goje is not likely going to declare. From the look of things, he is afraid. The EFCC has appealed his case, and he is almost like caged. The contest right now is between Lawan and Ndume”, the source said.

Speaking with Daily Independent, a senator who was rooting for Goje said he decided to withdraw from the race because he is afraid of the EFCC.

“There is no way Goje can contest. His hands are tied because of his case with EFCC. If he decides to defy the party and contest, the EFCC will come after him with full force. But now that he has toed the party’s line and shelved his ambition, they may give him a soft landing”, he said.

While lauding Goje for stepping down, El-Rufai said that Goje had demonstrated loyalty and sacrifice to the cause of APC by jettisoning his ambition for the success of the Buhari administration.

“We discussed steps to unify our leadership in the National Assembly starting with the Senate.

“I am very pleased to announce that distinguished Sen. Goje has agreed to fully endorse and support the choice of the party and that of the president within the Senate; that is Sen. Lawan.”
https://www.independent.ng/9th-senate-presidency-i-wont-step-down-ndume-insists/

EFCC, the militant arm of Apc

Follow party bidding and all your financial mismanagement will be swept under the carpet

I weep for my country

Very sad
Anyone can be Senate president.
But not a stooge pls

So, Goje is now a saint?