CISLAC Criticizes Senate For Silencing Ndume’s Voice

By Akinwale Kasali

Civil Society Group, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has lashed the Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio-led Senate for sanctioning Senator Ali Ndume.

The  Senator was ordered to be removed as the Senate Chief Whip by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for expressing concerns over the suffering in the land which has reduced millions of Nigerians to a status of anger and hunger.

CISLAC condemned Ndume’s sack as the Chief Whip of the Senate and said it amounted to silencing the voice of dissenting Senators.

The Executive Director, CISLAC, Awual Rafsanjani, in a statement  pointed out that Ndume played a significant role in the formation of the current Senate leadership and his contributions to governance.

According to him, unless a senator violates Senate rules, or the constitution, his or her removal is a clear sycophancy and undermines the Senate’s credibility as an independent body.

He Ndume to be sack as Chief Whip under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, was uncalled for and  accused the Senate of stifling dissent and undermining democratic representation.

He further criticized the character and integrity of the Senate’s current leadership, suggesting that their controversial backgrounds undermine democratic principles and threaten free speech and democratic consolidation.

He said: “The Senate’s actions undermine the constitutional role of its members as representatives of the people at the highest levels of government.

“By restricting Senators from expressing National concerns, the Senate risks eroding its mandate and weakening the Legislature as an independent arm of government.

“They have silenced, intimidated, and harassed opposition senators, forcing them to keep quiet. This is not democratic, and it’s not acceptable.

“There must be room for opposition in the Senate. Democracy only flourishes where a thriving opposition exists. The opposition parties have been silenced, and this should not be tolerated.

“The Senators are there to represent the people. If the people are not happy with the way the country is run, then there’s a crisis. Nigerians need to have a vibrant Senate that speaks for its people.

“The Legislators are being forced to keep quiet while Nigerians are bleeding, hungry, and dying.

“Meanwhile, they are just sitting and collecting bogus salaries.

“They are supposed to be doing serious work. The Senate is not a chieftaincy position; it’s a serious role that requires them to connect with the people, speak with the people, and voice their demands.

“All the other senators shouldn’t just keep quiet in times like this. The Senate has various parties—APC, PDP, LP, and APGA—and they are all quiet when they are supposed to hold the central government accountable.

“They are supposed to checkmate the excesses of the other arms of government irrespective of party loyalty.

“You should not keep quiet as a legislator; you’re only undermining democracy if you do. Being loyal to the party does not mean you should be quiet when people are kidnapped, killed, and hungry.

“It’s an anti-people action to stay silent when the country is not going well. You should not just keep quiet when the country is in hard times, and this is not acceptable.

“In silencing dissent and marginalizing outspoken senators like Ndume and Abdul Ahmed Ningi, the Senate risks rendering itself irrelevant. Rather than penalizing Senator Ndume for advocating on behalf of Nigerians, his contributions should be acknowledged and respected”, CISLAC said.