Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has expressed concern over the gale of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by opposition governors and federal lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly.
He spoke on Sunday night at the Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture in Abuja.
Delivering his acceptance speech shortly after receiving the award for “Most Outstanding Legislator and Advocate of National Unity,” the senator representing Borno South cautioned that the APC risks implosion, claiming that most of those defecting to the party have no value to add.
He said: “I have warned that the APC is becoming overloaded. And when you overload a ship, especially with mostly empty cargo, it risks capsizing. If it capsizes, the owner of the ship will face a bigger problem.
“That is the situation we find ourselves in today. The PDP is uncomfortable playing the role of minority or opposition. I am not aware of anyone, especially governors or leaders, whom the president or any of us in the APC leadership has gone out of our way to persuade to join us. But when your brother is displaced by a crisis in his party and he knocks on your door, will you shut him out or welcome him? That is what is happening.
“However, once some of them join the APC, they contribute nothing. They remain silent, doing nothing, even though the party has been magnanimous enough to allow governors who defect to automatically become leaders of the party in their states.
“It is like an ordinary church member, or even a pastor, leaving one church to join another and immediately wanting to become the pastor in charge. Or someone converting to Islam and insisting on becoming the Imam. Naturally, this creates problems. That is the confusion affecting our political landscape.”
The former Senate Leader appealed to Nigerians to support the present administration as it addresses the various challenges confronting the country.
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s sincerity in delivering on his electoral promises, he maintained that some ministers and presidential aides entrusted with sensitive responsibilities lack the capacity required for their roles.
He said: “We must remember a common saying: charity begins at home. Let us be united. Please, Mr. Chairman, let us be united behind our leader, President Bola Tinubu. With unity, we can move this country forward.
“I call Asiwaju a leader because of his leadership qualities. Some may be surprised because I am often critical of the administration. I speak out because I fear that people may think we are failing. Yet we have a leader who is willing to listen.
“As the Honourable Justice rightly pointed out, we suffer from a lack of leadership, not because the president is not leading, but because one person cannot be the captain, the player, the goalkeeper, and the striker all at once. When one person is left to run the entire field alone, nothing substantial can be achieved… I once said, and many accused me of being abusive or overly critical, that the government is overloaded with kakistocrats and kleptocrats. We must clear them out so we can move forward.”
Earlier in her speech, Mrs. Dame Azikiwe, wife of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, commended the organizers of the annual award for their commitment to sustaining the worthy legacies of her late husband in the memory of Nigerians.
She admonished public office holders to emulate the selfless contributions to national development made by First Republic politicians.
She particularly referenced her late husband, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; former Premier of the Western Region and later Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; and former Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
She said: “They are long gone, but their legacies live on. Azikiwe lived for the unity of Nigeria, and I am happy many people acknowledge his contributions. Leaders of the First Republic were selfless, not like leaders we have now who are more concerned about their pockets. I am always happy when people say good things about Zik and what he did.”
