Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has said he went into politics to serve the people and not to enrich himself, urging public office holders to prioritise the needs of their constituents over personal interests.
Ndume stated this on Monday while receiving a delegation of leaders from the Shani community in Borno State, who visited him to appreciate his efforts to attract development projects to the area.
“I did not join politics to enrich myself. I joined politics to serve the people,” the senator representing Borno South said.
He also cautioned politicians against using young people merely to advance their personal political interests, urging greater discipline, responsibility and accountability among those holding elective offices.
The visit came as the Shani community pledged support for Ndume’s re-election, citing his legislative efforts to establish a Federal College of Agriculture in the town and secure presidential approval for erosion-control projects worth N66bn across Southern Borno.
The community’s chairman, Musa Lubo, who led the delegation, said the visit was at the instance of the Emir of Shani and was intended to appreciate the senator for his efforts to bring federal infrastructure and educational opportunities to the area.
“We are here today to thank Distinguished Senator Ali Ndume for successfully passing a bill in the Senate, calling for the establishment of the Federal College of Agriculture in Shani.
“For the community, the proposed college represents more than another federal institution. It offers the prospect of expanding access to agricultural education, equipping young people with practical skills and supporting farmers in a locality known for cultivating rice, tomatoes and onions.”
The bill seeking to establish the college has passed third reading in the Senate and requires concurrence by the House of Representatives before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Lubo said the community would engage its representative in the House of Representatives to ensure the bill receives the necessary support to complete the legislative process.
“The Senate has already given us the approval. We will now go to the member of the House of Representatives and request him to kindly do us a favour and do the same so that this particular bill will see the light of day and benefit our community as expected.”
He said Shani had sufficient land and social amenities to accommodate the proposed institution, expressing hope that the Borno State Government would support its establishment after the necessary approvals.
Beyond the proposed college, the community also commended Ndume’s efforts to secure presidential approval for erosion-control projects estimated at N66bn across Southern Borno.
The former Senate Leader said the proposed intervention would cover several local government areas, with a separate N6bn project earmarked for the Aguza area.
Describing gully erosion as a major challenge confronting communities in the region, Ndume said the proposals had reached the final stage of the approval process.
“We are now at the last stage. We are waiting for the President’s final approval.”
He expressed optimism that the projects would proceed once the President granted the necessary approval.
The proposed college and erosion-control projects are expected to address some of the development challenges confronting Southern Borno, particularly in agricultural education, youth development and the protection of communities and infrastructure from erosion.
Reaffirming the community’s support for Ndume’s re-election bid, Lubo said the group was not seeking to prevent other aspirants from contesting but had made its preference clear.
“We cannot tell anybody not to contest, but we have told you the direction of our community.”
He added that the community expected the senator to sustain his efforts to attract development to the area.
“The community has made its political position clear. Its next expectation is delivery.”