The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, finds himself in the crosshairs of the Presidency after his sustained criticism of the governance style of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sources reveal that certain forces within the Presidency are determined to make him pay for his “sins.”
According to insider information, the recent comment by Ndume that President Tinubu has been controlled by a new cabal in the Villa has infuriated these forces.
In a coordinated plot over the weekend, they reached out to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, with the aim of reprimanding Ndume for his perceived antagonism towards President Tinubu’s administration, which they consider embarrassing to both the President and the ruling party.
Ndume, who represents Borno South, had publicly stated last week that President Tinubu had been hijacked by influential figures in the Presidential Villa, who allegedly deny access to anyone outside their circle, including ministers.
He further claimed that the President lacks a true understanding of the economic challenges faced by Nigerians due to his policies.
In his words, “The President should wake up; it seems he isn’t aware of what is happening because he has been isolated. He has been surrounded by plutocrats. He should open his doors and listen to those who will speak the truth.
Unfortunately, those who would tell him the truth don’t have to struggle to meet him. I am not only worried about the President but also about myself.”
Investigations reveal that the APC National Working Committee reprimanded Ndume over the weekend, accusing him of making baseless allegations against the current administration.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, Ndume’s claim that Tinubu has been confined in the Villa was dismissed, with the lawmaker being labelled an attention seeker.
However, sources within the party suggest that a former lawmaker, now serving as a presidential aide, is behind the pressure for the party’s statement and is also pushing for the President of the Senate to take retaliatory action against Ndume. The aim is to force Ndume to retract his supposed needless antagonism towards the President, as described by the Villa forces.
