Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has shed light on why opposition senators remained silent during the recent controversy surrounding Senator Ali Ndume in the Senate.
Ndume, a senator from Borno State, was stripped of his position as Senate Chief Whip on Wednesday after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He was replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno, also from Borno State.
Sani, who has a history of speaking out against injustice, explained in a post on his official social media handle that the opposition senators’ silence was driven by fear of facing similar consequences if they spoke out in support of Ndume. He revealed that the Senate President’s power to suspend or reprimand senators for their utterances or conduct has created a culture of fear and intimidation in the Senate.
Sani stated, “When a Senator is suspended or reprimanded for his utterances or conduct by the Senate President, if ‘any Senator talk anyhow de support am, him too go follow am’. That’s why the opposition senators kept quiet. That’s how the place is.” His statement suggests that the fear of repercussions has silenced opposition senators, allowing the Senate President’s actions to go unchallenged.