CISLAC Knocks Senate Leadership For Removing Ndume As Senate Whip
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Senator Godswill Akpabio’s led senate administration has been critised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, for the recent removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate’s Chief Whip, accusing the Senate leadership of stifling dissent voices and undermining democratic representation.
A statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Rafsanjani, and made available to journalists in Abuja, CISLAC, condemned Ndume’s removal, likening it to autocracy while stating that it demonstrates a trend of silencing senators and preventing them from voicing the concerns of the Nigerian people whom they are elected to serve.
CISLAC highlighted Ndume’s significant role in the formation of the present Senate leadership, his contributions to governance, and emphasised that unless a senator violates senate rules or the constitution, their removal reflects sycophancy and undermines the Senate’s credibility as an independent body that it is supposed to be.
It expressed worries that the Senate leadership’s alignment with executive anti-people policies and self-serving interests raises concerns about its autonomy, and portrays the Senate as a mere extension of the executive, contradicting its role as a check on government excesses.
CISLAC, a non-government organization that champions legislative advocacy, further criticised the character and integrity of the Senate’s current leadership, suggesting that their controversial backgrounds undermine democratic principles and threaten free speech and democratic consolidation.
It reminded the Swnators that irrespective of party loyalty, they should not keep quiet as legislators because if they do, they’re undermining democracy as being loyal to the party does not mean keeping quiet when people are kidnapped, killed, and hungry.
According to the statement, rather than penalising Senator Ndume for advocating on behalf of Nigerians, his contributions should be acknowledged and respected, because silencing dissent and marginalising outspoken senators like Ndume and Abdul Ahmed Ningi, the Senate risks rendering itself irrelevant untrustworthy among citizens.
