Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume has stirred controversy by distinguishing political corruption from other types of corruption, claiming it’s “people-driven” and shouldn’t incur serious punishment.
During an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Ndume admitted that politicians “steal and share with the people.” He suggested that this form of corruption is minor compared to other corrupt practices.
“If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven. If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years,” Ndume stated.
However, Ndume supports severe penalties for drug dealers, arguing that the death penalty is the best deterrent for those caught trafficking drugs.
“The death penalty is the best deterrent for those being caught for drugs. If you do drugs, you are killing people,” he said.
This comes as the Senate recently passed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment Bill) 2024, prescribing the death penalty for drug traffickers. The bill has sparked debate among legal experts and stakeholders, with some urging President Bola Tinubu not to sign it into law, while others support its implementation.