9th NASS: Buhari, Osinbajo Not Against My Aspiration To Become Senate President – Ndume

A former Senate Majority Leader, and frontline aspirant for Ninth National Assembly Senate Presidency, Senator Ali Ndume, has reacted to rumours that he was being prevailed upon to drop his aspiration.

According to him, both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo were in support of his ambition.

Ndume made this known following insinuations from some quarters which claimed that Osinbajo had during his (Ndume) recent visit advised him to step down for the Senate Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, who is the All Progressives Congresss anointed candidate for the number three seat.

The Senator in a statement yesterday revealed that both Osibanjo and President Buhari have nothing against his aspiration adding that he had sought Buhari’s permission earlier.

“Osinbajo didn’t ask me to drop the idea of contesting the Senate Presidency. We only talked about IDPs, Orphanages and related matters.

“The truth is, it is usual for me to meet with the vice president to discuss issues of common interest, especially the humanitarian crisis in the northeast, of which the vice president has shown exceptional interest in helping out.

“Personally, I’m a committed Buharist. Whether I become the Senate President or not, I will continue to stand by him, defend his policies because I see him as a mentor. And I believe that Mr. President has nothing against my aspiration for the office of the Senate President because I sought his permission long before the general election and he gave me his go-ahead. I have not heard anything otherwise from him.

“I believe he will not go against my aspiration, because as he said he belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody. And he sticks to that. I am sure that the least he can do is to allow the constitution, which he strongly believes in, and the rule of law to prevail in the emergence of the senate leadership.

“So, I want to use this opportunity to clear the air as to those that are trying to cause disaffection,” the statement read.