Atiku Criticizes National Assembly Over Removal of Senator Ndume

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the National Assembly for ousting Senator Ali Ndume from his position as Majority Whip following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu.

Ndume’s removal during Tuesday’s plenary session saw him replaced by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno from Borno North.

In a statement released via X on Thursday, Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, denounced what he described as executive overreach in manipulating the legislative arm against the interests of the public.

Atiku asserted that under President Tinubu’s administration, democracy in Nigeria has deviated from its fundamental principles, pointing to the National Assembly’s perceived subservience to executive directives.

He lamented the pattern where senators facing suspension or removal for criticizing the executive, such as Senator Abdul Ningi earlier this year, exemplify the legislature’s complicity in endorsing governmental excesses.

Quoting his statement, Atiku remarked, “In the evolution of systems of government, a major concern for thinkers was a governmental framework that will reduce the highhandedness of the executive arm of government.”

Atiku continued, “Regrettably, however, the democracy in Nigeria in the current administration of President Bola Tinubu has become an anathema to that general principle of democracy as providing primary protection for the people against executive excesses.”

He concluded by highlighting concerns over the National Assembly’s prioritization of executive whims over public welfare, warning against the erosion of democratic values and the potential emergence of authoritarianism detrimental to Nigeria’s populace.