Why I Don’t Regret Criticising Relocation Of CBN Departments To Lagos – Senator Ndume

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has said he has no regrets criticising the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for relocating some departments of the apex bank from its headquarters in Abuja to Lagos State.

The CBN had in January announced the relocation of some of its departments from Abuja to Lagos. In the same vein, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced the relocation of its headquarters from Abuja to Lagos. Reacting, Ndume criticised the moves saying there would be political consequences for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 if the planned relocation were implemented.

The remarks did not however sit well with many Nigerians who called the Borno senator insensitive. However, Ndume in a statement on Thursday said his intervention was based on reality and the irrelevance of the action by the leadership of the CBN. The Borno South senator said since his intervention, some elements have been using a section of the media to attack his personality and question the credentials of his daughter who is a staff member of the CBN.

He said though he is a lawmaker, his daughter, and children are qualified to work in any government agency as long as they have the needed credentials.He said the subtle blackmail would not stop or deter him from pointing out lapses in government, saying it was his own way of assisting President Bola Tinubu to succeed. He said he’ll never be deterred from speaking truth to power whenever those saddled with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the country err.

The lawmaker challenged those attacking him and claimed that he harbours ill feelings against the Yorubas to show their pan-Nigerian credentials, revealing that his two daughters are married to Yoruba men and have both given him five Yoruba grandchildren.Instead, Ndume called on the CBN governor to focus on stabilising the monetary situation in the country, especially the spiraling exchange rate and the rising inflation, rather than dwelling on the relocation of departments to an already-populated Lagos State.

He said, “I stand by what I’ve said about the relocation of FAAN and some departments of the CBN to Lagos State. If it is about decongestion, Lagos is not the right place. There are CBN offices in all the states of the federation. Why move the departments to Lagos which is already populated ? Since my intervention, people have been using a particular newspaper to attack me and saying that I hate the Yorubas. They’re ignorant and they don’t know what they’re saying.“My two daughters are married to Yoruba men, one from Lagos State and the other from Kwara State.

And I’ve five grandchildren who are Yoruba. How can I hate them and allow my daughters to marry them? Those saying I hate the Yorubas, how many of their sons and daughters are married to Hausas or Northerners? I’m a true Nigerian.“They’ve also been questioning the fact that my daughter works at the CBN. They should check her records. She’s a Nigerian and she’s qualified to work anywhere, including the CBN.“I’ve been the one pleading with her to remain there. She’s almost done with her Ph.D. and she wants to go to the classroom as a lecturer. She’s a brilliant lady.

Instead of these attacks on my person, the CBN should do its job and address the rising inflation and stabilising our exchange rates. They should leave me alone.”

He further noted, “President Tinubu is my friend and he knows that I support him 100%. He appreciates honest feedback and will not tolerate what these people around him who are becoming a political cartel are doing.“I’ll continue to speak the truth and point out areas where corrections are needed. That’s my job as a senator. It is not personal at all.”.