Borno Group Says Ndume Not Stepping Down For Lawan

A group of concerned stakeholders in Borno state has said that the former Senate Leader, Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume is not backing out of the race to becoming the next Senate President of the Ninth Assembly.

Naija News reports that the concerned group from Ndume’s home State of Borno gave the assurance despite the endorsement of the incumbent Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan by the leadership of his party; the All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group debunked social media reports suggesting that Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje, have withdrawn from the Senate presidency race following a purported meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

While reacting to the rumour on social media, the group led by a prominent Borno figure and top federal civil servant, Samaila Ville, described the news report as “mischievous and fake” while speaking with journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

In his words, Samaila Ville said they were; “surprised to see the post on social media that our son, Senator Ndume had withdrawn from the senate race after himself and the former governor of Gombe state, Danjuma Goje, had met with the president.

“Though we did not believe the news, we still had to check with Senator Ndume who had just left for Abuja to ascertain the veracity of such wicked rumour. And his response was in the negative that he had never, not even for once, contemplated backing out of the senate race.

“We know that the rumour was fake; and we want to categorically tell it to the world, that the race for the presidency of the 9th Senate is not all about Senator Ndume; but a collective decision. It all started locally from here; we are the ones that asked him to run after we had massively voted for him for the third time as a senator representing Borno South.

“Even if he is to withdraw, which is not likely, it has to be with the full consent of the stakeholders in Borno state first. And as at the last time we met with Senator Ndume which was some hours ago, the issue of backing out was never discussed. Besides how can a man that just left Maiduguri late Friday afternoon be said to have met with the President on the same day.

“All we want is a level playing ground for all candidates to exercise their rights and free will in seeking the Senate President seat. Senator Ndume has never asked for too much by insisting that the seat should be made open to all; and even if it is going to be zoned to the northeast, let the aspirants who are all equal in their respective rights go and slog it out. And we the people of Borno stand by him on that.

“We are also happy to hear the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomole, saying on Channels TV Hard Copy program that he cannot appoint or impose anyone on the Senate. Let him stick to that and allow democracy to prevail in the election of who becomes the next Senate President.”