Borno Concerned Citizens, a pressure group, has jettisoned governors-elect’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the senate presidency instead lent their support for one of the senators representing Borno state, Ali Ndume.
The group, which also disagreed with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership’s choice of Senator Lawan, opted to reject the party’s choice alleging that Lawan’s candidature was foisted on the senators by national leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“His influenced had made the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to endorse Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position of president of the Senate. We think since the position has been zoned to the North-east it should be left open for senators from the region to decide who among will be best suited for the job.
“We are happy other elected senators including Ali Ndume have indicated interest to contest the position. The APC should therefore not impose anyone on the party instead should back someone with the parliamentary experience and competence to do the job.”
However, the group warned that imposing Lawan on the zone could be counter-productive especially as regards the next level agenda of president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Spokesman for the group Alhaji Yakubu Umar said they decided to publicly mobilise support for Ndume after he confided in them that he discussed with and obtained the support of the president.
The group urged President Buhari to be wary of those that could sabotage and undermine his good intention for the people by throwing up wrong candidates for key leadership positions.
The Citizens urged Buhari to personally scrutinise Ndume and Lawan to determine between them who is more loyal, experienced and qualified to be president of the senate.
“Nduma is the better, having served as minority leader in the House of Representatives and later as Senate majority leader, “the group said.
Further, it claimed that Ndume was removed as senate leader because he was perceived to be too close to the presidency and was suspended from plenary for defending Buhari’s policy.The group, which claimed it has the support of former governors, former ministers and leaders of the APC in Borno state, recalled that the state gave the APC over 90 per cent of votes in the recent elections.
