Senator Ndume hits back at critics calling him a tribalist saying his daughters have Yoruba husbands

NIGERIA'S senate chief whip Senator Ali Ndume has hit back at critics who have insinuated he is a tribalist for opposing the relocation of several government agencies to Lagos saying both of his daughters are married to Yoruba husbands.

Last month, the federal government announced the relocation of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (Faan) headquarters and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to Lagos from Abuja. Both redeployments were designed to save costs and improve efficiency but groups like the Northern Elders Forum, have cried foul, saying the moves would under-develop northern Nigeria.

Also condemning the development, Senator Ndume, said the move by President Tinubu was influenced by political cartels within government. His comments led to fierce criticism, with his opponents describing the senator as divisive but he has hit back, saying he cannot harbour hatred for the Yoruba nation because two of his daughters are married to men from the southwest and he has five Yoruba grandchildren.

Hitting back at his critics, the senator  lamented the fact that his person had been subjected to media attacks, stressing that subtle blackmail will not deter him from pointing out lapses in government. He called on his critics to stop making objections to government policy a personal matter.

Senator Ndume said: “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 but they should check her records. She’s a Nigerian and she’s qualified to work anywhere, including the CBN.

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