Borno South lawmaker, Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may lose the 2027 presidential election despite the endorsements and defections to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) by governors and federal lawmakers.
Ndume who featured on a popular TV programme, Sunday Politic on Sunday in Abuja stated that the President was being misled by his close aides who have refused to tell him the truth about the pervasive hunger and poverty in Nigeria.
Senator Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate said that due to the “crippling economic hardship” in the land, President “Tinubu could be given the Jonathan treatment because Jonathan also had 22 governors who endorsed him like we did now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully.”
In the last few months several politicians including governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives have defected from opposition parties to the ruling APC why all manner of groups both within and outside the APC have also announced endorsement of Tinubu for a second term.
Ndume said that despite the fact that it is not time for electioneering campaigns, several supporters of the president have already started campaigning.
“We are not learning our lesson.
“I pity Mr. President. Even though he once said this is not the time for campaigns, look around—the campaigning has already started under the guise of endorsements,” the outspoken lawmaker said.
Senator Ndume revealed that he walked out on the recently convened national stakeholders meeting of the APC held at the State House, Abuja because he had thought that the meeting was going to discuss the situation of the country under the party, but it was rather a meeting called to endorse the president.
The lawmaker stated that “Those around him only feed him with what he wants to hear, not what is actually happening. Among his advisers, the only one I commend is Sunday Dare. He speaks the truth and understands Tinubu well because they’ve been together for years.”
Ndume warned that such moves could alienate the party’s grassroots supporters and foot soldiers, without whom any electoral ambition would be doomed.
“When the rumour came that National Assembly members might get automatic tickets, the party denied it. “So, who will be the foot soldiers? You cannot rely on governors alone.” he queried.
The lawmaker who stated that “I don’t have any problem with the President. He is my president. But if he does something that’s not right, I will point it out. That’s my responsibility,” however, urged President Tinubu to make hare while the sun shines as there was still time to make amends and win the Nigerian electorate over.
According to him, “The suffering we’re talking about is just within two years. If in the next two years, the president can make Nigerians happy—really happy—then nobody will contest against him.”
Senator Ali Ndume who represents Borno South is one of the most experienced lawmakers in the National Assembly, He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003, he was in the House until 2011 when he was elected to the Senate, He is well known for his frank and directness when talking issues. During the President Mohammadu Buhari administration, Ndume swam against the tide and always tackled Buhari for not being able to rein in insecurity in the country, especially the northern Nigeria.
In the 10th Senate, he was elected the Majority Chief Whip, but was soon removed for criticizing President Bola Tinubu.