Group Knocks Ndume Over PENGASSAN-Dangote Face-off
* Urges Tinubu, Nigerians to place him on security watch, says he is a risk to hard earned democracy
A group, Frontier Waves, on Tuesday rained heavy knocks on Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume over his call on President Bola Tinubu to act like a dictator to resolve PENGASSAN-Dangote face-off and asked him to bury his head in shame
Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, had called on President Bola Tinubu to issue an executive order to resolve the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Ndume, who featured on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, had said he would not object if the president acted like a dictator in order to end the crisis triggered by the alleged sack of 800 refinery workers.
“The best thing is for the president to sign an executive order calling them off. He has the right to dissolve them. In this case, I don’t mind if he acts like a dictator because some situations require very drastic measures,” he had said.
“I have long opposed so-called unionism that prioritises the benefits of a few individuals at the expense of the country,” he had said also.
But in a swift reaction, Tuesday, Frontier Waves lambasted Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, saying his ultrances never portrayed him as elder stateman, not to talk of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a press statement signed by Oluwa Vincent (President) and Ramsey Nede (Secretary), Frontier Waves described Senator Ali Ndume as someone playing ethnic card in order to satisfy Dangote.
The group said that Senator Ali Ndume never meant well for President Bola with his advice, saying that it was expected of the Senator to give quality advice when needed and not a divisive one.
According to the group; “We keenly watched Borno South Senator Ali Ndume on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday and we were highly disappointed in him with his recommendation to the President and his continued stay in the National Assembly is questionable. He never acted like an elder stateman not to talk of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The Group added that;”How can Senator Ali Ndume who was born on November 20, 1959, in Gwoza Town of Borno State and serving his fourth term as a Senator representing Borno South be behaving like that. His advice to the President is going to hurt the nation and this is why we are urging the President to ignore him completely as he doesn’t know what he is doing. When two parties have issues, the best way is to look for ways to resolve their differences amicably and certainly not the option of Senator Ali Ndume. We are highly disappointed in him and he should bury his head in shame. He is just a disgrace to those he is representing in the Senate”.
According to the group also; “As a Senator, you should be seen as prevailing on Dangote to reinstate sacked refinery workers and not calling on the President to act like a dictator and do the needful by dissolving PENGASAAN. Do you think that there will be 2027 general elections if Unions like PENGASSAN and NUPENG are dissolved and their leaders are sent to jail?”.
“It is on records that PENGASSAN and NUPENG have been advocating for a better deal for workers of refineries in the country and they should be commended for leading the way in the struggle for welfare of refineries workers. NUPENG and PENGASSAN are responsible and legal organizations as enshrined in Nigeria constitution and so far they have continued to carry out their noble roles and mandates as trade unions in the oil and gas sectors. They should be praised and respected for the struggle for welfare of refineries workers and not to be seen as those that prioritises the benefits of a few individuals at the expense of the country,” they stated.
Frontier Waves said; “The Unions are democratic structures like the senate and their existence is enshrined in the Constitution. Workers freedom of rights is essential in any sane society that thrives on democracy. Calling Mr president to act like a dictator here is an insult on the sensibilities of Nigerians as a democratic people. Senator Ali Ndume obviously should not be in the senate as he has proven to be a millitary apologist because dictatorship approach to issues is not the best and can never do us any good. Nigerians and Mr president should place security watch on Senator Ali Ndume as he is a risk to our hard earned democracy”.
