Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume says former President Goodluck Jonathan has become more valued by his critics since leaving office in 2015.
He said that being one of Jonathan’s critics, his respect for the former president has increased considerably.
Ndume stated this at the launch of a wellness centre in Abuja, Daily Trust reported.
The Borno South senator spoke few days after Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted him bail.
The APC senator had been remanded in prison custody for failing to produce Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), for whom he stood as surety.
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Ndume said, “As God wants it, that I must be here, because I was just released from detention yesterday night (Friday), maybe God wants me to attend this occasion, otherwise, I would have been in Kuje prison up till now.
“I must confess, as people call me stubborn person, I’m also a stubborn person. I feel I need to make this testimony here, and also appreciate Mr.(former) President, as they say you will never know what you have until you lose it. I will stop there.
“For this country, I think Nigerians know that they don’t value what they have until they lose that thing. We thank God for your life and you have changed the political culture and landscape of this country.
“You don’t know how great you are in the eyes of those that were skeptical, those that don’t know you, those that didn’t come close to you. But now, honestly, I am one of those that used to criticise you very well, but I will say it was constructive move.
“He wanted to be president but Nigeria being what it is, it was a different thing entirely. Like I said, he left a landmark on this country.”
Ndume tried unsuccessfully to be Senate President 2019, losing eventually to his party’s choice – Ahmad Lawan.
Since then, many believe his party has been out to demonise him.