Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South District, Borno State, has pleaded that he not be held accountable if newly elected Senate President Godswill Akpabio fails to live up to expectations in his new job.
Ndume was a key figure in the campaign for Akpabio and Deputy Speaker Barau Jibril, who were both elected on Tuesday.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated, the senator was questioned if Akpabio’s performance should reflect on him as one of his supporters.
He however argued otherwise, saying, “I don’t think that is right. I’m not Akpabio. Even before God, Akpabio will account for his own; I will account [for mine].”
Ndume believed he should not share in any liability attached to Akpabio’s performance.
“I said he’s the best,” the Majority Leader of the ninth Senate admitted.
“If he turns out being the worst, I’m not going to be responsible. How can you hold me accountable? I didn’t force anybody to vote. I believe he’s the best, but I don’t know what he will do tomorrow. I can’t say that.”
Ndume stated that his expectation is based on what he has seen.
“I’ve known Akpabio for four years; he was a minority leader, while I was the majority leader,” he said.
“And I know he is somebody that is intelligent, he’s passionate about some issues, and he’s detribalised. He’s a qualified lawyer, he was a minister, he was a commissioner, he has all it takes to do what Nigerians expect.”