By Philip Nyam
Leaders emerge under different circumstances- some swift and pleasant, others through tough times while others are products of a hotchpotch of factors. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, leader of the Senate, who clocked 57 years of age on November 20, 2016 is one politician that has had a chequered political career and mixed fortunes in his quest to serve the nation. He is one of the few Nigerians that has walked through the valley of the shadow of political persecution and extermination, yet came out unscathed. Ndume has in his journey to service encountered the good, bad and the ugly but incidentally survived the usual pull-him-down (PhD) syndrome associated with politics in our part of the world.
An outspoken and brutally frank politician, Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District of Borno state on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was born on the November 20, 1959 in Gwoza Town of Borno State. He was first elected to the Senate in April 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had earlier served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok from 2003 to 2011.
was a thorn in the flesh of the ruling PDP. He authored many historic motions and bills. Conversely, as Ndume’s popularity soars, this marked the beginning of his political travails. Consequently, he was engulfed in a serious political disagreement with some leaders in the state, particularly the governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff forcing Ndume to abandon ANPP, the party that brought him to limelight.
Ndume was made the Chairman of the Senate Committee on MDGs, where he maintained his high intellectual display and legislative finesse. Consequently, his political height towered above politicians like Modu Sheriff making his detractors uncomfortable.
The vibrant lawmaker continued his hard work sponsoring several motions and many bills. His most notable bill was the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2015, which paved way for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to vote in 2015 general elections. A man, who does not sit on the fence, the political events that charcetrised the last two years of Jonathan’s Presidency, saw Ndume forming nPDP with 20 of his colleagues which eventually coalesced into APC, the present ruling party. He was eventually re-elected in the 2015.
He was in November 2011, linked to Boko Haram. Those who know Ndume very well suspected foul play. Ndume is a devout Muslim and comes from a multi religious background and could not have been a party to such allegations. Though a Moslem, his mother and some of his siblings are Christians, so Ndume could not be sponsoring a radical group that delights in terminating lives and destroying property. Many discerning Nigerians saw the hands of his detractors in the charges that were leveled against him. This was indeed a low point in the promising and flourishing political career of a bourgeoning leader. This did not however deter him neither did his teeming supporters abandoned him. Ndume kept the flag flying with his constituents providing the necessary support.
And since it is often said that no matter how long you suppress truth, it will always manifest, Ndume again triumphed over this misfortune. The truth manifested itself recently when the so called Boko Haram spokesman that implicated Ndume went in search of penance before the senate leader. Konduga, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment and recently concluded his jail term, was at the residence of the Senate leader to confess his lies and seek for forgiveness. According to a family source, Konduga’s family had claimed he is mentally unstable and sneaked into Ndume’s house the night before September Sallah and insisted that he wanted to see the Senator who was in Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj exercise.
At 57, Ndume has gone through good and bad times but due to his honesty and strong belief in God, he has indeed triumphed over his detractors and the vicissitudes of life. In June 2016, Ndume contested for deputy senate president but because of the crisis in the APC, he lost to Senator Ike Ekweremadu. He however emerged as Senate leader and has become the stabilizing factor in the upper chamber, working hard to institute a cordial working relationship between the legislature and the executive; and create an enabling environment for enduring legislative activities. Ndume’s achievements will remain indelible in the eyes of the people of North East for sponsoring the North East Development Commission bill, which has been passed and is awaiting Presidential assent.
A successful family man, Ndume is married to Justice Aisha and Hajia Maryam and is blessed with 10 children. As he celebrates 57 successful and eventful years on earth, we join millions of well-wishers in praying for Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume to continue soaring higher in the service of mankind and fatherland. Happy birthday leader!
Nyam, a journalist, wrote from Abuja
Ndume was made the Chairman of the Senate Committee on MDGs, where he maintained his high intellectual display and legislative finesse. Consequently, his political height towered above politicians like Modu Sheriff making his detractors uncomfortable