Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has identified what he believes is President Bola Tinubu’s greatest challenge, saying the Nigerian leader is surrounded by aides and political associates who are unwilling to tell him the truth when government policies fail.
Speaking during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Thursday, the outspoken lawmaker argued that the President’s inner circle has become one of the biggest obstacles to the success of his administration because many of those closest to him lack the courage to offer honest advice.
“I believe that his problem, I said it before, is the people around him,” Ndume declared.
The senator, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), explained that President Tinubu was already familiar with his forthright opinions on governance and national affairs.
“Yeah, he knows. The President knows me to some extent. I give it to him, he has so much to do,” he said.
Ndume disclosed that despite belonging to the same political party as the President, he had only met Tinubu officially on a handful of occasions, including discussions on health sector funding.
He revealed that he had also written two separate letters requesting an audience with the President to discuss issues affecting the country, particularly insecurity and the welfare of Nigerians.
“I wrote two letters and I marshalled my points that I wanted to discuss with him about what can be done, especially about security and welfare of citizens. Those are the main purpose of government,” he said.
Asked whether some individuals within the Presidency had prevented him from meeting Tinubu despite his efforts, Ndume answered: “Yeah, both.”
The senator recounted that one of his meetings with the President was facilitated after a presidential aide informed Tinubu that he had defended his administration during a television interview.
“He was telling Mr President that Ndume is speaking today on Channels, talking positively about you. He said, ‘Why don’t you call him?’ They called me and he said, ‘Look, Ali, come. I want to see you tonight.’
“I went. We had a lengthy discussion. I left and he said, ‘Come time to time.’ I said, ‘Okay, I will not come time to time. If you want me, you are the President, if you say come on so-so date, you are the President. If I don’t come, you can even send the IG to come and arrest me and bring me here.’ That was how we joked,” he said.
Although he dismissed suggestions that a cabal controls the Presidency, Ndume questioned whether those around Tinubu were providing him with objective advice.
“No, not cabal, so to say. I don’t want to give them that,” he said.
When asked if President Tinubu remained firmly in charge of his government, the lawmaker offered a measured response.
“Yeah, he can be in charge. ‘He can be in charge’ is different from ‘he is in charge’.
“All of them, majority of them, 95 per cent of them are his dependants. Even before he became the President, he was taking care of them.”
According to Ndume, that close relationship has made it difficult for members of the President’s inner circle to challenge decisions or point out shortcomings in government policies.
“That is one of the problems of his government. When you have people around you that are your dependants, they cannot look you in the face and say, ‘Ah, Mr President, this cannot work,’” he added.
Despite his criticisms, Ndume reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and the Tinubu administration, insisting that his comments were intended to strengthen, rather than undermine, the government.
When reminded that the Tinubu administration was also his government as a member of the ruling party, he replied:
“No, it’s our government. Right. If it is not for Tinubu, my Governor, Vice President and his wife, I probably wouldn’t have been in APC by now.”
