…Senator, others raise N40m to resettle Borno IDPs
WorldStage Newsonline– Political leaders and other prominent indigenes from Borno South Senatorial District, who are constituents of the ousted Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume braved the pounding rain on Wednesday to besiege the Unity Fountain Abuja, to register their displeasure over his removal from office.
The protesters insisted that Ndume was only removed from office for merely drawing the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the sufferings of Nigerians and not because of insubordination as claimed by government officials.
The protesters came under the umbrella of the Southern Borno Development Association, defied massive downpour to hold the procession at the National Assembly.
Addressing the peaceful procession and demonstration under intermittent downpour, leader of the association, Mohammed Ibrahim Biu said they were at the Assembly to register their displeasure over the action of the Senate with respect to our Senator, Ali Ndume.
Biu pointed accusing finger to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje for removing Ndume from office as Senate Whip for saying what others have been saying.
According to him, nothing he said was is new and President Tinubu being a listening leader, has started implementing some of the advice given by Senator Ndume that is why the new minimum wage bill was recently passed and approved by him.
He appealed to the Senate President and Senators to reconsider this decision.
He reminded the Senate that Ndume was occupying that position as the only position occupied by the Southern Borno Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Biu described Ndume as a consistent and forthright leader who had always spoken out in favour of his constituents in particular and down trodden Nigerians in general.
He added that he should be supported not vilified for speaking and standing by the truth always.
Meanwhile, Senator Ndume has commended the Borno State Government for its efforts in the ongoing Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) project.
He said the development had resulted in the resettlement of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their ancestral homes in ten communities of Gwoza Local Government Area.
Over a decade of insurgency had forced the people of Gwoza, including those in the Mandara Mountains, to leave their homes.
Gwoza town was declared a Boko Haram caliphate until it was recaptured and liberated by troops a few years ago.
Ndume, in a statement in Abuja, said that since peace is gradually returning to the area, Governor Babagana Zulum has not only resettled displaced people but has also initiated monthly distribution of food and non-food items as palliatives, which he described as highly commendable.
He identified the 10 resettled communities as including Gwoza, Pulka, Limankara, Warabe, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Izge, and Bitta.
Others are Hambagtha, Modube, and Yamtake villages. He also mentioned that the people of Ashgashiya, Wala, and other communities would soon return to their ancestral homes.
The Senator was in Gwoza during the weekend for house-to-house condolence to families of those who lost their loved ones on 29th June 2024 through multiple suicide bombings.
He said he was very impressed with his people who displayed resilience and were busy working on their farmlands while he spent some days in Gwoza town.
He also donated the sum of N10 million, while his wife Hajiya Maryam donated N3 million into a dedicated account of Gwoza Concerned Citizens (GCCs).
He said the funds would be channeled into the resettlement of Gwoza people and complement the efforts of Governor Zulum.
Ndume also commended those who have contributed their widow’s might to the GCCs’ account, especially, the management of JAIZ Bank which donated N10 million, while the member representing Chibok/Gwoza/Damboa federal constituency, Hon. Ahmed Jaha equally donated N5 million.
Among the donors, Ndume said were, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir who donated N3 million, Engineer Zakariya and Hon. Mohammed Tumala donated N1 million each.
Also, the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta offered his donation alongside many sons and daughters of the Gwoza Local Government Area
He said, “I want to thank you for finding time to come to my house for solidarity over what has happened to me and my people in Gwoza.
“The incident of multiple suicide attacks which happened in Gwoza town on 29th June 2024 left over 30 people dead, with dozens injured.
“Although I was amongst the entourage of the then Acting Governor, His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur immediately after the incident, I decided to personally pay another sympathy visit from house to house and condole the bereaved.
“I also used the opportunity and distribute palliatives donated by the North East Development Commission, NEDC, which about 2,000, mostly women and youths who are the vulnerable groups in Gwoza.
“I want to specifically appreciate the Borno state government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum who injected huge resources that led to the resettlement of thousands of IDOs back to 10 liberated communities of Gwoza.
“These include not only Gwoza but Pulka, Limankara, Warabe, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Izge and Bitta. Others are Hambagtha, Modube and Yamtake villages. I am happy to inform you that very soon, the people of Ashgashiya, Wala and other communities will return to their ancestral homes by Allah’s grace.
“Despite what befell us, I was very much impressed with my people who displayed resilience, they are busy working on their farmlands during my stay with them, and I also thank our security agencies for giving them cover to cultivate their farmlands in this cropping season.
“I thanked those who have contributed their widow’s might to the GCCs’ account, where we were able to raise over N40 million, as the window of voluntary donations is still open to complement Borno State Government in its Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of our displaced communities.”
