The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has reiterated his opposition to the planned relocation of some Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) departments and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters to Lagos from Abuja.
The plans by CBN and FAAN had generated condemnation from different quarters mostly northern groups.
Senator Ndume had on Tuesday in a television programme cautioned Tinubu against the move, saying the president was being ill-advised by “Lagos boys” in the corridors of power.
“All these Lagos boys who are thinking that Lagos is Nigeria are just misinforming and advising the President wrongly,” the lawmaker, who represents Borno South, had said.
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His comment elicited reactions from his colleague, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) who said Ndume didn’t speak on behalf of the Northern lawmakers.
Karimi insisted that it was needless to attach ethnic or petty sentiments to the relocation of the offices, which he said, was done for cohesion and better delivery of services.
Ndume fired back at his colleague, saying it was unpatriotic not to tell President Tinubu the truth about the happenings in the country.
The senator, in a statement, said he did not speak on behalf of the Northern lawmakers or the Senate but as a northerner in support of the majority of northerners and some Nigerians who are against the action of CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo.
“With all due respect, I did not speak on behalf of the Northern Senators or the Senate but as a northerner in support of the majority of northerners and some Nigerians who are against the action of the CBN governor and the minister of aviation,” Ndume said while quoting a former US President who said it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth.
“In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else,” Ndume said.
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