Senator Ndume Raises Alarm Over Tinubu's Advisory Team
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the National Assembly, has issued a stark critique of President Bola Tinubu's inner circle, asserting that the President is being poorly served by advisers who lack essential political understanding and grassroots connections.
Warning of Electoral Consequences
During a recent interview on ARISE Television's Prime Time program, Ndume emphasized that growing dissatisfaction in Nigeria's northern regions could have significant electoral consequences if urgent steps are not taken to address prevailing concerns. "Anybody that tells you that the North is not grumbling now is not telling the truth," Ndume stated bluntly. "It will be loud in their votes if nothing is done about it. The good thing about it is that the President can turn things around."
Stalled Engagement with Northern Leaders
The lawmaker revealed that northern elders have made concerted efforts to engage the President constructively, noting his personal participation in meetings between Tinubu and northern leaders. "In the North, northern elders have been reaching out. I was part of the first and the last meeting with Mr President when northern elders went to him," he explained. "He was prepared, he brought all the critical appointees from the North and we had a wonderful session."
However, Ndume expressed disappointment that despite presidential assurances, the engagement process stalled shortly afterwards. "He promised that it would continue, but it never happened," he lamented.
Contrast with Lagos Governance
While absolving Tinubu of direct blame, Ndume argued that the President's current challenges stem largely from the people surrounding him. He contrasted Tinubu's present leadership environment with his successful tenure as governor of Lagos State, which was marked by the presence of strong and capable advisers. "The President had good people around him when he was governor of Lagos; that was why he succeeded," Ndume observed. "Most of the good people are not there now. They have been sidelined."
Criticism of Presidential Aides
Ndume further criticized some presidential aides for what he described as elitist isolation and lack of national perspective. "He just picked people that don’t know anybody," he asserted. "They only know Ikoyi, Victoria Island and from there they fly to London or America where their families are living. They are not even full Nigerians."
The senator emphasized that instead of assembling a team that would provide honest feedback, Tinubu has surrounded himself with individuals lacking political acumen. "Instead of bringing in his team that would look at him in the face and tell him the truth, he decided to surround himself with people that don’t know politics," Ndume concluded.
Call for Action
Ndume warned that unless the concerns being raised, particularly in northern Nigeria, are adequately addressed, the growing dissatisfaction could deepen and manifest strongly in future electoral processes. His comments highlight ongoing tensions within Nigeria's political landscape and raise questions about the effectiveness of presidential advisory systems in addressing national concerns.
