The greatest disservice anyone can do to themselves is the inability to discover ‘self’, needless to mention self-worth. In a normal political setting, there are people who by now should have been cast into the basket of political oblivion, but who because of the way the society they found themselves is structured have continued to enjoy some form of relevance even if at the risk of denying their immediate environment quality democratic deliverables.
One of such persons is Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate. The 65-year old Gwoza-born Mohammed Ali Ndume, a man who has enjoyed tremendous benevolence through, largely providence, has repeatedly proved to be a misfit in power with his endless controversial stance on national issues. From proving to be an unstable personality in actions and inaction, the 21-year-sway National Assembly member seems not to have learnt anything in and about leadership.
It is for this reason that I am prompted to recommend to Sen. Ali Ndume one of America’s best-selling leadership books of all times written by the renown internationally recognised leadership expert, speaker and author, John C. Maxwell – The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.
A grasp of this best-seller’s piece by Maxwell would have been very helpful to the controversial Sen. Ali Ndume. Who knows, may be his failed attempts at becoming the #3 man – the Senate President would have long become a reality. But then, it is what it is – who you are is who you attract. The 9th and 11th laws explained by John C. Maxwell in his ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership speaks about the ‘Law of Magnetism’ and ‘The Law of the Inner Circle’ respectively. While the 9th law emphasises likes attracting likes, the 11th law says a leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him.
A look at the many controversies surrounding Senator Ali Ndume reveals his personality and that of those who flock around him. It is only natural that one cannot give what they do not possess. Just like John C. Maxwell expressed in another of his books titled ‘The Ultimate Leadership – Maximise Your Potential and Empower Your Team, Maxwell had opined, change the leader, change the organisation or setup – here, everything rises and falls on leadership.
Senator Ali Ndume has continued to show he is not a leader by any standard. He is just a beneficiary of a system that promotes Stockholm syndrome. Otherwise, how could a man with diminishing value continue to represent a bloc of people for 21 years, yet enmeshed in endless controversies most of which have no bearing on the welfare of his constituents? Of course, he knows his people too well. Like Maxwell clearly stated in law 20 – The Law of Explosive Growth, John Schnatter, one of America’s best makers of pizza had said, “It is my job to build the people who are going to build the company.” The question therefore is, how many Gworzans has Senator Ali Ndume built in his 21-year sojourn at the National Assembly? As a two-term House of Representatives member from 2003 through 2011, and now a 4th term Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, who are his mentees that have gone on in life to excel?
In a recent interview, the always-in-the-news-for-the-wrong-reasons Senator accused those whom he described as ‘Lagos Boiz’ of an attempt to relocate the Federal Capital Territory from Abuja, the Seat of Power to the economic capital of the country – Lagos State. Following the recent decision by the apex bank – the Central Bank of Nigeria to move some of its departments, Sen. Ndume, who with unfettered access to decision makers, and who should have acted wiser chose to jettison reason and went with the social media hoopla. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso’s decision to make such move has been largely praised by industry watchers and critical stakeholders such as the former honcho at country’s apex bank, HRM Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who even described the move as, ‘an eminently sensible move.’
Aside critical stakeholders who have thrown their weight behind such decision which is aimed at ensuring more efficiency and cost-benefit result, opposition party members have equally lent their voices, supporting Mr. Cardoso’s decision. But Ndume as a chauvinist that he is would see it from an ethnic angle and was even warning of ‘political consequences’ if the partial relocation was not reversed.
Two prominent members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have praised the CBN for such a bold move. A former spokesperson to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential poll, Mr. Daniel Bwala described the hoopla generated by the news from the Apex Bank as mere political. He said this is because there are many other departments and agencies of government that are not in Abuja but in their suitable locations.
In his views, another staunch supporter and former aide of Alhaji Atiku, Pastor Reno Omokri issued a statement on his verified X handle (@renoomokri), “…I will never go against the interest of Arewa. Therefore, let me say moving specific departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, to Lagos in no way harms Arewa politically or economically. It is in Nigeria’s economic interests that this happens. Money that is made in Lagos does NOT stay in Lagos. It circulates from there to other states, especially Northern states…”
Now, as I try to wrap up this piece, let me also say that away from the insinuations, there are two words that should never be in the same sentence simultaneously – Ali Ndume and Integrity. For a man who could ditch his own party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – a party that provided a platform for him to return to the Red Chamber in 2015 and worked with the opposition, it is an insult on the sensibility of Nigerians with integrity to be classified with a no-character person like Ndume.
Of a truth, Sen. Ndume and integrity should not be seen in same vehicle. His unstable character is enough reason to tell any discerning mind that Ali Ndume is the complete opposite of nationalism. Nigerians should henceforth stop taking seriously, a man whose over two decades sway at the National Assembly is all about self-service. Can we ask our Distinguished to list his milestones for his people in 20 years?
Sen. Ali Ndume is always known to be an opposite of what he purports to show to the public. His actions have always been about ‘self’. But he is always quick to hide under the incognito of nationalism to grandstand on national issues. In 2015, he connived with the opposition PDP to bring in then Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki through the back door against his own party – the APC. Again, in 2019, he aligned with the opposition PDP once more against his APC party to vie for the position of the Senate President, joining forces with the likes of PDP’s (now) UK-imprisoned Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. Is that the same man that is worth the talk?
Many Nigerians do not know that the media noise from Sen. Ndume on CBN’s planned relocation of some vital departments to Lagos State where their core responsibilities are domiciled is never borne out of patriotism or the love for the unity of Nigeria. Rather, it is self-serving and laden with ulterior motive.
In some quarters, some people alleged that Ndume’s crocodile tears in the media is not unconnected with the fact that his family is ‘largely’ affected by the CBN decision. A user on his verified X handle by the name Adamu Hayatu (@AHayatu) wrote, “Senator Ndume is angry because his daughter in Consumer Protection Department is moving to Lagos. Her husband another guy who is also married to his second daughter are all working in CBN. So much for fighting for the North!”.
Ostensibly, his gibberish in the media was all about his fears that the family members would be taken away from the life of ‘comfort’ they already are used to. It is therefore an antithesis to describe Sen. Ali Ndume as a progressive. What is progressive in a man who is a serial betrayal of his own party? He betrayed his party in 2015. He did worse betrayal to same party that gave him platform again in 2019. So, I wonder how anyone wants to speak of Ndume and classify him among the Progressives? If na joke, make una stop am, biko!