Senator Ndume regrets criticising Jonathan, praises former president

 

Senator Ali Ndume, fresh from Kuje Prisons where he spent about four nights, on the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has eulogised former President Goodluck Jonathan, for the valuable footprints he left on Nigeria’s political landscape.

Ndume who was remanded in prison custody for failing to produce bail-jumping Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of presidential task team on pension reform, whose bail he had guaranteed, said he had just realised the value Jonathan left behind while he was president.

The lawmaker spoke on Saturday at Apo legislative quarters, Abuja, at the opening of wellness centre and launching of a book titled: ‘Everything heals’, authored by Dr Susana Adams, the CEO of the centre.

Ndume also stated that his recent detention at Kuje prison and subsequent release from the custody was the will of God, saying that “as God wants it, that I must be here, because I was just released from detention yesterday night (Friday), maybe God wants me to attend this occasion, otherwise, I would have been in Kuje prison up till now.”

Jonathan, who was the chairman of the occasion was accompanied by the former of Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; former NTA News journalist, Eugenia Abu, among other dignitaries.

Speaking before the inspection, the Borno Senator said other people who were sceptical about the ex-president’s behaviour have also realised how great he is, adding that many Nigerians do not value what they have until they lose it.

“I must confess, as people call me stubborn person, I’m also a stubborn person… I feel I need to make this testimony here, and also appreciate Mr. (Former) President, as they say you will never know what you have until you lose it. I will stop there.

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“For this country, I think Nigerians know that they don’t value what they have until they lose that thing. We thank God for your life and you have changed the political culture and landscape of this country.

“You don’t know how great you are in the eyes of those that were sceptical, those that don’t know you, those that didn’t come close to you. But now, honestly, I am one of those that used to criticize you very well, but I will say it was constructive move,” the lawmaker said.

Speaking further, Ndume recalled how people working with the former President accused him of sponsoring Boko Haram and how he was vindicated by the court after six years of litigations.

The Senator, Daily Trust reports, said, “I had a breakfast with him (Jonathan) on 21st November (2011) and I was accused of sponsoring Boko Haram. He was saying, ‘Kai’ the man doesn’t… I don’t think the security would see it that way and from there, I went to SSS and I was detained for 30 days. I went to court for 6 years.

“And when I was vindicated, I had the opportunity to run to meet him, and he said, Ndume, you have been patient and God has vindicated you. Take this as part of blessings from the Almighty. He was genuinely speaking to me, and I believed in that.

“He wanted to be President but Nigeria being what it is, it was a different thing entirely. Like I said, he had left a landmark on this country.”