The Senator representing Kogi-West, Sen. Karimi Sunday has said that the Senate Whip, Senator Ali Ndume spoke for himself and not the Red Chamber when he condemned the proposed relocation of some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja, back to Lagos.
Sunday in a statement issued Wednesday maintained that Ndume’s position was personal and did not in any way represent a position taken by the Senate.
It would be recalled that Ndume in a Channels Television interview on Tuesday warned President Bola Tinubu that there would be political consequences for his action, claiming that the President was being misled by a cartel of ‘Lagos Boys.’
Karimi, a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that it was needless for the Ndume to be attaching ethnic or other sentiments to the relocation of the offices, which was done for cohesion and better delivery of services.
He pointed out that leaders need to avoid utterances that would heat up the polity and cause division and disaffection amongst the federating units of the country.
The lawmaker emphasised that the headquarters of 96 per cent of all banks in Nigeria are in Lagos, adding that the staff of the Banking and Supervision Department of the Central Bank often travel to Lagos to check their books at the headquarters.
He, therefore, said the move would therefore save cost to have that directorate in Lagos.
Karimi noted: “Also, Lagos remains the hub of aviation in Nigeria; for operational efficiency, it is better to have FAAN in Lagos.
“What is important to our people in the North and Nigerians as a whole is how decisions of government will affect their lives positively and put food on their table at cheaper prices.
“They are not bothered by any ethnic sentiments on the relocation of offices of federal ministries and agencies. Senator Ndume’s position is personal and doesn’t represent the position of the Nigerian Senate.”
Karimi added that the Northern senators forum had not taken an official formal decision on the issue, preferring the option of an investigation.
“During the forum’s last meeting, where the issue was raised, the members urged caution on taking a hasty position, calling for a full investigation to be conducted before any intervention, including legal processes, would be explored.
“When this issue was raised for discussion on the platform of the Northern Senators Forum, the Chairman of the Forum, Sen. Abdul Ningi, cautioned on the need to exercise restraints. That no one should jump into conclusion or read political meanings into the decision.”
“There is the need for a proper investigation before taking a position.
“I want to believe that our President, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will not act in any way to undermine any section of the country, the decision would have been made for the cohesiveness of units within such organisations”, one member stated.