A group of supporters of Sen. Ali Ndume under the aegis of National Coalition in Defense of Democracy (NCDD) has called on all stakeholders including the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to provide a level playing ground for all its members from the north eastern part of the country who want to contest for the office of Senate president in the 9th National Assembly.
The NCDD National Coordinator, Amb. Auwal Alhassan Gama, who made the call in Abuja, yesterday, also appealed to all National Assembly members-elect, especially those of the upper chamber to support the call for Senator Ndume’s Senate presidency.
Gama, who said the coalition was part of the process that brought them onboard, expressed belief that Senator Ndume would not disappoint them.
He said the coalition observed among other things that one of the reasons why the present government under President Muhammadu Buhari did not meet up the expectations of many Nigerians in the areas of infrastructure and human development was the sour relation between the executive and the legislative arm of government.
He said the development created setbacks among them non-full implementation of the budget and alteration on key intended projects of the government.
Gama said: “The NCDD in its wisdom felt the need to call on the newly elected members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, irrespective of the political party, to consider Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, a three-term senator from Borno South Senatorial District, Borno State, a patriot, a detribalized Nigerian and an experienced member of the National Assembly who has contributed to the growth of our democracy for the position of the president of the Nigerian Senate.
“The decision to call for support for Senator Ndume’s emergence as the next Senate president is borne out of our desire for a healthy working relationship between the executive and the legislature for better delivery of democratic dividends.
“It is our belief that he will bring his matured sense of reasoning, experience and fear of God into play as the chairman of the National Assembly. He is one politician we know and trust will unite all interests in the National Assembly.”
The coalition also saluted the courage and goodwill of the presidency in allowing all arms of government to run their activities independently.