Senator Ali Ndume, Chief Whip
Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, harshly criticized the Nigerian government, calling it a “kakistocracy” — a system run by the least qualified and most corrupt individuals. During an interview with Arise TV on Friday, Ndume expressed his frustration with the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
“The government is going down,” Ndume said, describing it as “run by kakistocrats and kleptocrats.” He clarified that while President Tinubu genuinely aims for renewed hope, his efforts are undermined by the people around him who prioritize personal interests over national welfare.
Ndume pointed out recent government policies, like the controversial cybercrime levy, which faced public backlash. He noted that President Tinubu was unaware of the levy and quickly suspended it once informed. Ndume also highlighted the severe issue of hunger and food scarcity, with inflation reaching 40%. “In some places, even with your money, you won’t find the food items you want to buy, which is very dangerous,” he said.
The senator lamented Nigeria’s current food crisis, noting that the UN and World Food Programme now rank Nigeria as a hotspot for food insecurity. “For people like me, I have to be scared because I’m 64 years old with 10 children, 20 grandchildren, and I don’t have a passport or visa to anywhere,” he added.
Ndume criticized the limited access to President Tinubu, explaining that some ministers only meet him during council meetings, and even then, the president is the first to leave. “I’m the chief whip, and if I can’t have access to the president, the new senators won’t have access either,” he said.
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He contrasted this with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, where senators could meet with the president within 24 hours. “Obasanjo made sure any senator had access to him within 24 hours. Ministers went in and out freely,” he recalled.
Ndume expressed concern that President Tinubu is isolated and disconnected from the pressing issues like climate change and food insecurity. “It seems those around Mr. President always assure him that everything is alright out there, and that is not the case,” Ndume said.
The senator urged President Tinubu to surround himself with competent individuals and appoint democrats to key positions. “The president needs people who will realize his dream and tell him when something is wrong,” Ndume emphasized.
He criticized the current administration’s inaccessibility compared to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime. “During Buhari’s administration, which I thought was not that good, you could still see the president. Now, if you go to the Villa, it’s like a graveyard because they don’t allow anybody to see Mr. President,” Ndume said. He pointed out that some ministers under Tinubu’s administration lack direct access to him, meeting him only during council meetings.
Ndume expressed support for the removal of fuel subsidies, hoping it would curb corruption and redirect funds to benefit the populace. However, he proposed introducing food stamps to help vulnerable citizens cope with the subsidy removal’s impact.
The senator shared his concerns about public discontent, revealing that he had sent messages to officials in the Presidential Villa, only to receive dismissive responses attributing the unrest to opposition machinations. “When people in power respond like that, I worry for the president and myself; there’s a problem out there,” Ndume warned.