The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned Senator Ali Ndume against criticising President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume, a member of Senate representing Borno South and serving as the Senate Majority Whip, in a recent interview on Arise TV, claimed Nigeria is led by incompetent leaders who prioritise personal interests over national welfare.
He mentioned severe food insecurity, noting that Nigeria ranks among the world’s worst hotspots according to the UN, World Food Programme, and Action Against Hunger.
Ndume expressed fear for the country’s future, citing his own inability to leave Nigeria due to a lack of a passport and visa. He warned that if those in power do not inform the President about the severity of the issues, the situation will worsen.
APC spokesman Felix Morka responded, calling Ndume’s comments unnecessary and attention-seeking. Morka stressed that as a senior senator, Ndume has access to government platforms to address his concerns.
He criticised Ndume’s claim that President Tinubu is unaware of the country’s challenges, calling it an unjustified outburst.
“The latest outburst in the media by the senator representing Borno South and Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been ‘caged’ and unaware of existential challenges in the country is as haughty as it is unnecessary.
“As a Senator of the Federal Republic, Ndume has the platform of the National Assembly to raise and address matters that he may consider to be in the national interest. He also has access to the entire machinery of the federal government of Nigeria,” Morka said.
“Senator Ndume did not explain the use to which he has put this enormous access in seeking solutions to concerns that he may have. It is understandable if Senator Ndume feels frustrated by his suggested inability to access the President.
“But that does not warrant or justify his outlandish declaration that the President has been caged in some way or ensconced from the reality of conditions in the country. Senator Ndume’s heedless comments smack of an indulgent sense of entitlement to see the President on a whim,” he added.
Morka defended Tinubu, stating that the President is actively addressing national issues. He highlighted recent government efforts, including the inauguration of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), the launch of the Economic Stabilisation Programme, and meetings with labour leaders on the new minimum wage.
According to Morka, President Tinubu has also signed an Executive Order to reduce drug costs, approved tax waivers for food imports, and directed the Armed Forces to combat terrorism.
“President Tinubu meets and interacts regularly with citizens, officials, and guests from all walks of life, as his schedule permits. He has continued to superintend the formulation and implementation of policy and programme measures aimed at mitigating prevailing economic conditions and boosting availability and price access to food and other essential commodities.
“In similar vein, President Tinubu recently signed an Executive Order aimed at reducing the high cost of drugs; approved tax waivers for the importation of some food items in the bid to crash prices and ensure food sufficiency.
“He also directed the Armed Forces to combat and defeat the resurgence of acts of terror, among many other important engagements that speak eloquently to his command of the situation in the country,” he said.
Morka concluded by emphasising the need for collective effort to tackle Nigeria’s social, economic, and security challenges.