Senator Ndume Says He Will Testify Against Dasuki At ICC

Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) is the Senate Leader. In this interview he spoke on many topical issues, including the $2.1bn arms deal involving former National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki, relocation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East and other issues.

You had a closed door meeting with service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase on the relocation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East, especially Borno State. What is the outcome of the meeting?

I may not be able to give you the details of the meeting because of its security implications, but I will tell you two main issues. One, it is the relocation of the IDPs from Maiduguri back to their respective villages, and two is the reopening of the highways like Maiduguri-Mubi, Maiduguri-Bama, Gwoza and the road to Damaturu through Buratai and Biu. These were the main purposes of the meeting.

Actually, it was very fruitful because we have been able to get progress report and the efforts being made by security agencies. The federal government and the security agencies assured us that they were working on it, and as soon as possible, they will do just that.  As you can see, few days ago, the Nigerian police reoccupied the mobile training camp in Limakara (near Gwoza) and hoisted the Nigerian flag. That place was occupied by the Boko Haram insurgents, but now it has been taken over by the security agents.

Are you saying it is ripe for locals to return to their villages?

It will soon be very ripe for people to go back to their villages. The security agents are working very hard and our people will soon go back. In the few areas where we are still having challenges, the locals will move to the local government headquarters' and camp there, if it is necessary, before they would be moved to their villages.

They are planning to build two transit camps in Gwoza; in fact, the buildings are already in progress. People from Gwoza West will stay in Gwoza and people from Gwoza East will stay in Pulka before they rebuild their houses. They can't just go back like that because their houses have been destroyed. The local government and individuals are trying to rebuild their houses.

My advice to our people is to be patient. We have been enduring the situation for over a year, so let us endure for the few months or weeks remaining for us to go back.  I can assure our people that the government is working round the clock on that. The government is open to our suggestions or views.  As you can see, our meeting with the security chiefs lasted for about three hours, meaning it was fruitful. We are very satisfied with the progress so far, and we are hopeful that our people will go back to their villages as soon as possible.

You only discussed two issues with the security chiefs and you are telling the people to go back home while their residences are not there. How do you expect them to cope?

No, it is not that we are telling them to go back home, our people want to go back home. It is a different thing when you say you want the people to go back home and the people are saying they want to go back home. Our people are putting pressure on us to allow them to go back home. They are tired of staying in camps.

To fast-track the development of the entire North-East destroyed by the insurgents, we have sponsored a bill for the establishment of the North- East Development Commission. When established, the commission will provide institutional framework for the rebuilding of the North-East. The commission will coordinate all the activities for the rebuilding of the region. 

How do you see the probe of the diversion of $2.1bn meant for the purchase of arms for Boko Haram war?

As far as we are concerned, these people shared blood money. Borno elders have made our position known on this through a statement they issued. We stand by our elders' statement, that anybody who shared from the money meant for the purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram, is part of the sect, or they are sponsors of the sect.  There are classes of Boko Haram - the army of Boko Haram, the supporters of Boko Haram and the sponsors of Boko Haram. Those people that shared the money for the purchase of arms are part of Boko Haram.

We are supporting the government in the investigation and recovery of the funds. In fact, we are saying the government should take the case to Hague. We are very glad that somebody in the person of Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has taken the case further by going to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Kudos to him. If need be, I'm willing to testify at the ICC against those who collected the money meant for the Boko Haram war. This is because I am a victim too. We stand by Falana and we are going to support him to pursue the case at the ICC. We are not surprised that Falana has taken the case further because he is always by the side of the oppressed.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is saying the probe is a witch-hunt against its members. What is your reaction to this?

Dasukigate is not a witch-hunt because it is a fact that they shared the money meant for the Boko Haram war. Is the money stolen or not?  They stole the money and they must be prosecuted for it.  It has gone beyond politics.

Apart from Falana, the international community has commended the country for trying to recover the arms money. John Kerry in particular said they were in total support of Nigeria.

The debate on the 2016 budget at the Senate is polarised along party lines. While you in the APC are saying it is the best budget ever, your PDP colleagues are saying it is not implementable. How do you see the budget?

This is the first time members of the PDP are playing opposition politics. They are learning, and when you are learning, you fumble. This is allowed.  It is unfortunate that the debate on the general principle of the budget has been tainted with partisan politics; but that is normal. They are novices in opposition politics; that is why they are fumbling. 

The benchmark of crude oil in the proposed budget is $38 dollars per barrel, but the commodity has crashed. Are you people contemplating reducing it?

The good thing is that out of the N6.08trillion budget, only N820billion is proposed as the revenue to be generated from crude oil. The budget is going to be funded by internally generated revenue and other revenue sources. Government is doing everything possible to diversify the economy and generate more revenues for the country.

Whatever it is, when we get there we will know what to do. We are very hopeful that the budget projection of $38 is still realistic.

Interviewed culled from dailytrust.com