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A civil society organisation has called Senate leadership to strip Senator Ali Ndume of his role as chairman committee on Army over his recent comment on the burial of 847 soldiers in a Military grave in Maiduguri, Borno state.
        The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, October 17, said the comment by Ndume is a dangerous one. Reacting to the statement by the senator, the national coordinator of CATE, Gabriel Onoja, alleged that the lawmaker was exploiting this sensitive position as the senator representing Borno South senatorial district to the advantage of Boko Haram terrorists. Onoja also advised the Senate leadership to stop playing politics with the lives of innocent Nigerians as well as jeopardizing the amiable effort of the gallant troops on the frontline and replace Ndume. He called on the Senate leadership to assign any other committee to the lawmaker to avoid any form of manipulation due to his position. Onoja said: "The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has followed with interest the claims by the chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, as they pertain to the ongoing war against terrorism in the north-east of the country." He also said that it is on record that Ndume is yet to open up on his involvement in the kidnap of Chibok girls and Dapchi girls so that Nigerians can appreciate the full extent of his involvement. "Senator Ndume’s interest in asking for improved funding for the Army is driven by an interest to get his cut of the money that would be so allocated for fighting terrorism, which he plans to achieve by leveraging his position as Senate committee chairman on Army," Onoja said. Onoja also alleged that Ndume is beclouded by greed that he gave no thought to how his utterances are helping the terrorists to sow fear in the land. "CATE is, therefore, demanding that the Senate leadership without delay removes Senator Ali Ndume as Chairman of the Committee on Army based on the reality that he is exploiting the position to the detriment of the nation," he added. He also said that: "Senate is welcome to assign him any other such committee that he cannot manipulate to offer tactical support to terrorists."