The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, and some other Northern traditional and political leaders have approached Senate President Bukola Saraki and other lawmakers, asking them to upturn the suspension of Ali Ndume, LEGEND VIBES can authoritatively report.
Mr. Shettima led a team, described as “Borno elders” by our source, to the residence of Mr. Saraki, Thursday night, seeking to end the feud between the estranged allies and ensuring the suspension slammed on Mr. Ndume is lifted.
“The purpose of the visit,” disclosed the source who is knowledgeable about the development, was for “mediation.”
“They went to meet other leaders in Senate as well,” the source, a Senate insider, added.
Mr. Ndume was suspended from legislative activities for six months, after the Senate, on Wednesday, upheld the report of its committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions chaired by Samuel Anyanwu, PDP-Imo.
Mr. Ndume had, at plenary last week, raised the bullet proof car scandal involving Mr. Saraki, and the certificate scandal involving another senator, Dino Melaye.
The two matters, Mr. Ndume said, had made the Senate subject of public ridicule. He then asked the Senate to investigate Messrs. Saraki and Melaye, two persons he had aligned with in 2015 in subverting the will of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in electing the Senate leadership.
Mr. Anyanwu’s ethics committee, tasked to conduct the investigation, convened an investigative hearing on Monday, attended by parties concerned with the cases regarding Messrs. Saraki and Melaye.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Ibrahim Garba, confirmed Mr. Melaye graduated from the school, while Lanre Shittu, a car dealer, absolved Mr. Saraki of culpability in respect of the fake documents with which the bullet proof car was imported.
In its report, the committee cleared Messrs. Saraki and Melaye, and recommended one-year suspension for Mr. Ndume alleged to have demeaned the reputation of the Senate with the issues he brought against his colleagues without conducting proper Investigation.
However, there was plea for a lighter punishment, and the suspension was reduced to six months.
But beyond the matters raised by Mr. Ndume, he has had broken relationship with Mr. Saraki over his support for Ibrahim Magu, embattled acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Mr. Ndume had disagreed with the Senate resolution on Mr. Magu, when the EFCC acting chair was first rejected in December last year.
He also faulted a resolution of the upper chamber indicting the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, over what has come to be known as ‘grass-cutting scandal’.
It was majorly on the basis of his open disagreement with the two resolutions of the Senate that Mr. Ndume was removed as Senate Leader.
He had told LEGEND VIBES Mr. Saraki masterminded his removal.
But the Borno State Governor, Mr. Shettima, has commenced efforts to reconcile Mr. Saraki and Mr. Ndume with a view to ensuring the latter’s suspension is lifted.
Mr. Shettima’s spokesperson, Isa Gusau, declined comment on Friday. But he did not deny that the meeting between his principal and Mr. Saraki held.
However, LEGEND VIBES gathered from lawmakers that Mr. Shettima also met with Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe) and “even Dino Melaye” and that “he is determined to meet and persuade as many Senators as possible” over Mr. Ndume’s suspension.
Mr. Shettima’s concern, LEGEND VIBES understands, is that Mr. Ndume is key to Borno’s efforts at recovering and rebuilding after years of devastation caused by Boko Haram insurgency.
“Borno can’t afford not to have a Senator like Ndume in the Senate for six months,” said a source, because “Borno is a peculiar case.”
More so, some of the worst hit areas, like Gwoza, Damboa, fall within Mr. Ndume’s constituency and “therefore he has to be there to push their interests as he is also part of the presidential committee on north east,” one source said.
But apart from Mr. Shettima, there are other Northern leaders, including emirs, retired generals, former governors and ex-senators, who are prevailing on Mr. Ndume that he should submit to a process of political solution which will see Mr. Saraki and other lawmakers agree to lift the suspension slammed on the Borno politician, LEGEND VIBES can authoritatively report.
In fact, a team of Northern leaders arrived Abuja after the suspension, seeking to resolve the crisis.
When contacted and told what we gathered on Friday, Mr. Ndume said: “what you heard is correct.”
He however refused to provide further details other than saying “I’m still consulting”.
A source close to Mr. Saraki said “Ndume’s suspension is mostly likely to be lifted” following the efforts being made by Mr. Shettima and other Northern leaders.
When contacted, the Senate President’s spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he was not authorised to speak on the matter

Senate President Bukola Saraki is truly a thorn in the flesh to the power that be. This is the best government that I have seen where two out of the three tiers of the government (Legislative Arm and Judiciary) are trying so hard not be suppressed by The Executive Arm. However, it shouldn't be at the detriment of the whole citizens. And I hope Senator Ndume learn from this trying time and his punishment should be reduced to One month as sign to the next mole that may be planted by The Executive Arm of the government

If they did not suspend it, court will.
So no wahala.

The poster above me just made me laugh. What court? Have u ever heard of a court lifting a suspension done by the legislature? Do you even know what is separation of powers? Since the legislature is not going outside their powers in suspending Ndume, no judge will even waste his time sitting over the matter. It will be struck out for lack of jurisdiction

Chai! "Saraki ti take over". How times change. It would have been unthinkable that I might write such just a year ago. Begging is the best course of action for Ndume. He must have seen from the way things are going that relying on the weak vegetable called buhari is useless as even the president can't help himself. With this, Mr saraki has the opportunity to consult further with the northern leaders to the detriment of buhari. These are taught times for the sick president, if he survives his bad health, his administration might not survive this ruthless Senate. If saraki is wise, he would try to make peace with Tinubu and make some consultations with obasanjo. And also the south east. If he can do that, I think he is the next president already. I never liked the man but there is no denying the fact that he may be the most powerful political figure in Nigeria today

Newbiee:
If they did not suspend it, court will.
So no wahala.

Which court? Appeal court, you mean? he will continue to run to court against the lawyers of the Senate until the six month lapse. If you know how low operate, you will fear what is called FEAR. Law that give victory or acquittance to the one who has more revealing evidence even if he or she could cover his or her tracks.

jollymizzle:
Chai! "Saraki ti take over". How times change. It would have been unthinkable that I might write such just a year ago. Begging is the best course of action for Ndume. He must have seen from the way things are going that relying on the weak vegetable called buhari is useless as even the president can't help himself. With this, Mr saraki has the opportunity to consult further with the northern leaders to the detriment of buhari. These are taught times for the sick president, if he survives his bad health, his administration might not survive this ruthless Senate. If saraki is wise, he would try to make peace with Tinubu and make some consultations with obasanjo. And also the south east. If he can do that, I think he is the next president already. I never liked the man but there is no denying the fact that he may be the most powerful political figure in Nigeria today

Saraki doesn't have problem with Tinubu. Have you not seen reshuffling in the Senate positions?, Yoruba blood in Saraki has made him to consolidate his position. The President is the one to be called to order and obey simple law of Nature of POWER SHARING WITHIN HUMAN WORLD . The President use archaic method in trying to subdue his political foes and fight war against corruption yet his chosen arrowheads were once corrupt as well. So, how does such popularity of such President won't nosedive . He doesn't obey court order and you think such won't hit the rock. He has already hit the rock. All I know is that the Senate won't plan anything to impeach him but the President is inn for a lot of political scheming and political cold War.

jollymizzle:
Chai! "Saraki ti take over". How times change. It would have been unthinkable that I might write such just a year ago. Begging is the best course of action for Ndume. He must have seen from the way things are going that relying on the weak vegetable called buhari is useless as even the president can't help himself. With this, Mr saraki has the opportunity to consult further with the northern leaders to the detriment of buhari. These are taught times for the sick president, if he survives his bad health, his administration might not survive this ruthless Senate. If saraki is wise, he would try to make peace with Tinubu and make some consultations with obasanjo. And also the south east. If he can do that, I think he is the next president already. I never liked the man but there is no denying the fact that he may be the most powerful political figure in Nigeria today

Saraki doesn't have problem with Tinubu. Have you not seen reshuffling in the Senate positions?, Yoruba blood in Saraki has made him to consolidate his position. The President is the one to be called to order and obey simple law of Nature of POWER SHARING WITHIN HUMAN WORLD . The President use archaic method in trying to subdue his political foes and fight war against corruption yet his chosen arrowheads were once corrupt as well. So, how does such popularity of such President won't nosedive? . He doesn't obey court order and you think such won't hit the rock. He has already hit the rock. All I know is that the Senate won't plan anything to impeach him but the President is inn for a lot of political scheming and something like political cold War.

Olu317:
Saraki doesn't have problem with Tinubu. Have you not seen reshuffling in the Senate positions?, Yoruba blood in Saraki has made him to consolidate his position. The President is the one to be called to order and obey simple law of Nature of POWER SHARING WITHIN HUMAN WORLD . The President use archaic method in trying to subdue his political foes and fight war against corruption yet his chosen arrowheads were once corrupt as well. So, how does such popularity of such President won't nosedive? . He doesn't obey court order and you think such won't hit the rock. He has already hit the rock. All I know is that the Senate won't plan anything to impeach him but the President is inn for a lot of political scheming and something like political cold War.

if what you say is true, then we have a new president already.

I just dey pity those pple forming cabal around buhari. If saraki gains more ground and through his consultations obtains "a go ahead" to impeach buhari. Their jail terms go long pass that of a monkey in the zoo. Except maybe daura whose dss report nailed magu. The only obstacle in saraki's path is prof osinbajo who would take over in the event of pmbs ouster, as saraki might not trust him enough not to run after this administration's term expires. But as for buhari, I don't see him coming back even if he manages to finish this term.

jollymizzle:
if what you say is true, then we have a new president already.

Do your personal analysis and calculation. You will marvel at all you find. PMB chose wrong set of people to fight and ended up picking up wrong set of people to turn around the economy. How on earth do you think a Lawyer can handle Power sector, when a former professor Barth Nnaji who studied inline with science related course resigned based on inconsistency and warning from enemies of progress? You think, to bulldoze or bully extremely power block will solve the problem? The President erred in so many ways. And I hope he won't end up through the back door, asking the Senate to support his program when his scrota are already in the NASS CHAMBER. The best man who can manipulate or maneuver the Senate through sentiments is almost being relegated in the person of V. P by PMB. Don't you think the V. P, as a professor of law, would have advised the President from detaining Kanu, IPOB leader ? Then, you will see that there is more that meet the eyes. PMB is beginning to be alone because he chased away those who could help his government perform and interchange them with witch hunters and clueless economists. It is a Time Bomb and the clock is ticking before PMB's image and personality finally looses relevance.

I don't care how Sen. Saraki flex his muscles as the Senate president of the 8th assembly. All am sure of is that he has sacrifices his future political ascent on immediate self aggrandizement.

Saraki should enjoys his position while it last, but one thing that is certain is that he might not get a second term in that position.
He should also know that nearly 80% of the senators from the north rode on PMB's popularity and goodwill, hence the electorates are watching and waiting.