Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South within the Nationwide Meeting, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s internal circle, alleging that the President is being poorly served by advisers who lack political understanding and grassroots connection.
Talking on Wednesday throughout an interview on ARISE Tv’s Prime Time, Ndume mentioned rising dissatisfaction within the North may have electoral penalties if pressing steps should not taken to deal with prevailing issues.
“Anyone that tells you that the North is just not grumbling now is just not telling the reality,” Ndume mentioned. “It will likely be loud of their votes if nothing is finished about it. The benefit of it’s that the President can flip issues round.”
The lawmaker mentioned northern leaders had made efforts to have interaction the President constructively, noting that he personally participated in conferences between Tinubu and northern elders.
“Within the North, northern elders have been reaching out. I used to be a part of the primary and the final assembly with Mr President when northern elders went to him,” he mentioned. “He was ready, he introduced all of the vital appointees from the North and we had a beautiful session.”
In response to Ndume, regardless of assurances from the President, the engagement course of stalled shortly afterwards.
“He promised that it will proceed, however it by no means occurred,” he mentioned.
Whereas absolving Tinubu of direct blame, Ndume argued that the President’s issues stem largely from the calibre of individuals round him.
“You recognize what I’m suspecting? The President is just not the issue; it’s the individuals across the President which might be the issue,” he mentioned.
He contrasted Tinubu’s present management setting together with his time as governor of Lagos State, which he mentioned was marked by the presence of robust and succesful advisers.
“The President had good individuals round him when he was governor of Lagos; that was why he succeeded,” Ndume mentioned. “Many of the good individuals are not there now. They’ve been sidelined.”
Ndume additional criticised some presidential aides for what he described as elitist isolation and lack of nationwide outlook.
“He simply picked folks that don’t know anyone,” he mentioned. “They solely know Ikoyi, Victoria Island and from there they fly to London or America the place their households reside. They don’t seem to be even full Nigerians.”
He added, “As a substitute of bringing in his group that will take a look at him within the face and inform him the reality, he determined to encompass himself with folks that don’t know politics.”
He warned that except the issues being raised, notably within the North, are addressed, the dissatisfaction may deepen and manifest strongly on the polls.
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