The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has asserted that many of the individuals who contributed significantly to President Bola Tinubu’s success during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State have now been pushed aside.
According to Ndume, the President is currently surrounded by an elite circle that is largely disconnected from everyday Nigerians, with many of them spending much of their time in affluent areas such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island before travelling overseas to reunite with their families.
The lawmaker made these remarks while responding to questions during an interview on Arise Television.
Ndume said that Tinubu’s achievements as Lagos governor were largely due to the quality of advisers and allies he had around him at the time, noting that many of those trusted figures are no longer part of his inner circle.
“When he was governor, the President had capable people around him, and that was why he recorded so much success. Unfortunately, many of those individuals are no longer there; most of them have been sidelined.
“Now, he selects people who are only familiar with Ikoyi and Victoria Island and then travel to London or the United States, where their families reside. These individuals are not deeply connected to Nigeria and do not understand grassroots politics,” Ndume stated.
He further explained that Tinubu has long been deeply involved in political strategy, recalling how the President had previously supported several candidates before finally achieving his long-standing ambition.
“The President has been politically active for a long time. The first candidate he backed came from the North, but it didn’t succeed. The second was also from the North, and it failed. The third attempt was the one that finally worked. That is why he said, ‘it is my turn,’ which led to the popular slogan ‘emilokan,’” Ndume explained.
Ndume concluded by criticising Tinubu’s current leadership approach, arguing that instead of assembling a team that would challenge him and offer honest advice, the President has chosen to surround himself with individuals who lack deep political experience.
“Rather than bringing in people who can look him in the eye and tell him the truth, he has opted to surround himself with those who do not truly understand politics,” he added.
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