A non-political group, also known as the Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), has thrown more weight behind the 10th Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, who appeared last Thursday on a television programme, where he said there is much hunger in the land under the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
Senator Ndume, who represents Southern-Borno at the Red Chamber also said that, despite hunger and insecurity bedevilling the nation, it has been very difficult for some Ministers, Special Advisers and other appointees of the federal government to have access to Mr. President.
In a press statement issued yesterday to newsmen, signed by the CNF Coordinator, Abdulkadir Kura, the group stated that it has no linkage with Senator Ndume, saying it is non-political; but emphasised that it will always stand for any Northerner who has courage in defending the masses, as enshrined in the NCF Constitution.
Kura insisted that Senator Ndume has spoken the minds of average Nigerians who have been under serious economic hardship since removal of the fuel subsidy and other anti-people policies of the present administration.
The group also called on all and sundry to resort to prayers for God Almighty to have mercy on the land and rescue Nigerians from the clutches of ‘Hunger and Insecurity’ that have characterized the whole system.
” We members of CNF deem it necessary to address some of the issues that surrounded the interview Senator Ndume had with a television programme last Thursday. In that interview, Ndume came clear without recourse to political affiliation and said nothing but the truth.
“Although, this was not the first time the Chief Whip criticised or challenged policies of the federal government, as he has done so consistently during the past administration of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, such criticisms by Ndume have led to positive changes by the listening governments at that time.
“Presently, it is true that millions of Nigerians cannot even have two square meals a day due to exorbitant rises in the prices of foods items such as common garri, maize, tomatoes etc, and most importantly, people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed due to insecurity, such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism among other criminalities in the land.
“We, however, found it unfortunate and condemnable that some people, particularly those who have been milking from the national cake under the present administration join forces in attacking Ndume’s truthful and realistic statement on the current situation in the land”.
On claims by some people who alleged that Ndume has not performed well to the people of his constituents, the NCF described such allegations as baseless and unfounded, as it is on records, that Ndume was behind the establishment of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) and the Federal College of Education Gwoza, in addition to numerous people-oriented projects such as drilling of boreholes, provision of agricultural inputs, construction of healthcare facilities and classroom blocks.
“Besides these achievements, Ndume has within his last 100 Days in office delivered 20 people-oriented projects in the areas of agriculture, health, education, energy, palliatives, sports, and roads among others across Southern Borno Senatorial District”, it stated.
The Group warned that it will resist any attempt or threat to attack or harm Senator Ndume, as any such move will not be tolerated.
To this end, the NCF Coordinator reiterated that people devoid of any political sentiment should recognize that Senator Ndume’s criticism is not an attack, but a call for immediate and effective action to address pressing issues that is against the Government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
