“You Are To Be Blamed” – Ali Ndume Tells Nigerians To Accept Responsibility For Leaders They Complain About

• Senator Ali Ndume has said Nigerians must accept part of the responsibility for the poor leadership they complain about, arguing that politicians emerge from the society and electorate.
• Speaking at the presentation of a book on former Army Chief Tukur Buratai’s tenure in Abuja, Ndume said citizens also have a role in electoral malpractice and determining who eventually occupies political office.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has said Nigerians must accept part of the blame for the poor leadership they complain about, arguing that politicians are products of the society from which they emerge.

Ndume made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, at the public presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.

He was responding to comments by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who had criticised the political class over the politicisation of ethnicity and religion and their impact on Nigeria’s security and governance challenges.

“Every blame is on the politician. And I’m a politician, though accidental, or maybe, forced or recruited into it. But I’m a realist. I live with the situation I find myself, and I’m proud of it,” Ndume said.

He argued that since politicians emerge from the electorate, citizens also have a responsibility in the democratic process.

“Politics is people; politics is one way to run democracy, and what is democracy? It’s the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. From all discussions, now the blame goes down to us, and we are your product,” he said.

On electoral malpractice, Ndume said citizens also have a role to play in the process that brings politicians into office.

“And by the way, you are to be blamed because even if it is through rigging, it is you people that do the rigging to bring us in. So, if you put us here, we are doing your bidding,” he added.

He urged Nigerians to become more involved in politics and pay greater attention to the people and processes through which leaders emerge.

Ndume also recalled his experience after entering politics, saying he had never visited a police station before his political career but had since been imprisoned twice.

“I was a senate leader, I was a chief whip recently, I went to prison twice. Before I came into politics, I’ve never gone to police station,” he said.

“You put garbage in, you expect something good out of it? It’s not possible,” he added.

@Erherhe Brume: He has said nothing but the truth, Nigerians like life a lot, if there is a call for revolution are we ready to come out in numbers it’s the question

@Juliet Chiamaka: What can we do? When the institution that ought to fight for us has been compromised

@Obi Eloka Kevin: Please, when did we elect the drug man?

@Amanda Peace: You said the truth Sir

@Emmanuel Ben-Yayork: I didn’t elect them, they were imposed on me…

@Geraldine Amadi: We didn’t select them,they impose themselves on us,a new Nigeria is possible

@Princess Maduka: No män can last 5 seconds ontop my bödy 😂

@Toochukwu Emmanuel Toochukwu: Nigerians una don hear am na

@Chijioke Jioke: Na awusa nd yaribas to be blamed.

@Solomon Emediong: Oga you are talking nonsense.

The last election was a eye sour did the political leader allow the Will of the people to prevail?.

In a free, credible and fair election APC is a gooner.

@Mhiz Treanz: But we didn’t elect them,they focused themselves on us

@Jennifer Morris: Technically, true.

INEC is also to be blamed

@Omosefe Usiobaifo: I didn’t elect him or them they were selected by inec

@John Scot: That is the truth

@Ajakaiye Sunday: Of course