Ndume to sue FG for $800m World Bank loan

Senator representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume has vowed to sue the Federal Government over move to collect $800million loan from the World Bank despite opposition from Nigerians.

Last week, Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, revealed to State House correspondents that the FG had secured $800million from the World Bank to provide post-petroleum subsidy palliatives for over 50 million Nigerians ahead of June 2023.

But speaking in an interview on the Morning Show on Arise TV yesterday, Ndume said he was opposed to the loan plan and expect every Nigerian to speak against it.

The Senator further stated that he was not part of those who approved it, adding that it was done in the House of Representatives.

“The loan issue is something that is in public domain, I am going to court to stop it. If you take the loan by the time they distribute the money we would pay back in the next 40 years.

“I am against the loan I would expect that every Nigeria would speak against it,”Ndume said.

Speaking on the senate presidency race, Ndume said the process was highly monitised which made him to withdraw, noting that one of the aspirants to the Senate Presidency has boasted of giving each senator $200,000 to vote for him.

Though, he didn’t mention the name of the aspirant, he opined that it’s unfortunate that everything has been monetised.

He attributed his failure to become Senate President in 2019 to lack of money to spend.

He said the only 28 Senators that voted for him then were genuine votes.

He also accused the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan of making money from the money given to him to contest in 2019.

Ndume who is now the campaign Director General for the front runner for the Senate President seat, Godwill Akpabio, said it is unfortunate that everything has been monetised.

He, however, said that in the 10th Senate, they are looking for Senate President not Senators President.

“I can tell you that we have 70 Senators on our stability group list now. I am the first on the list,” he boasted.

Akpabio, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had been nominated by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to become the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

However, he faces stiff competition from other senators, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Jibrin Barau among others.