By Bolarinwa Kabir
Mohammed Ali Ndume, the ousted Senate Chief Whip has rejected the chairmanship of the Committee on Tourism given to him, saying he is not a tourist.
Ndume also stated that only his constituents, who elected him, can ask him to leave the All Progressives Congress, APC, for another party.
Nevertheless, he lauded President Bola Tinubu on the N70,000 new minimum wage but said it was little compared to a 50kg bag of rice.
Recall that the National Working Committee, NWC, of APC had removed Senator Ndume (APC, Borno South) as Chip Whip over his comments on President Tinubu.
However, reacting on Friday, the politician said he stood by his comments but had accepted his removal.
On Tourism Committee chair, Ndume spoke to journalists at his residence in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Friday. He was home for the third day prayers for his late sister-in-law.
He said: “As for the Chairman Senate Committee on Tourism offered to me, I want to say that I am not a tourist and not good in tourism.
“As it is, I have spent over 10 years without going to any foreign countries. I have never been to the United Kingdom, UK. Even the United States of America which I went was when I was schooling there.
“I am happy; yesterday the President approved the minimum wage to N70,000 only. It is a good move. But the minimum wage is still minimal compared to a 50kg bag of rice which costs over N70,000.”
On his removal, he said: “I had wanted to react. But I was mourning. I now deem it feet to do so.
“I am a democrat and a realist, and someone who always says the truth no matter whose ox is gored.