Senator says President’s inner circle lacks strategy
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has once again criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the President is surrounded by people who “don’t know politics.”
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the former Senate Chief Whip argued that the current inner circle is detached from the political realities facing the average Nigerian. Ndume suggested that this lack of strategic political foresight is leading to policies that are increasingly unpopular and difficult to implement at the grassroots level.
The vocal lawmaker maintained that a “Kingmaker who became King” needs people around him who can speak the truth to power without fear. He lamented that the current set of advisers is “cocooning” the President, preventing him from hearing the genuine cries of the people regarding hunger and economic hardship. Ndume’s latest outburst is part of a series of criticisms he has leveled against the “Renewed Hope” agenda since his removal as Chief Whip in July 2024.
According to the senator, the personalization of the government has made it difficult for institutions like the National Assembly to function as a deliberative body. He expressed concern that the legislature is becoming an “approving institution” rather than a separate arm of government that checks executive excesses. This “fusing” of the executive and legislative branches, he warned, is a danger to the health of Nigeria’s democracy.
Criticism of economic reforms and hunger in the North
Ndume also took the opportunity to highlight the “unbearable hardship” currently being experienced in his home state of Borno. He noted that the high cost of transportation and food has left many families unable to feed themselves as January 2026 comes to an end. The senator urged the President to ignore the advice of “enemies of the state” who are pushing for reforms that do not take the poverty levels of the country into account.
The lawmaker specifically mentioned that the current minimum wage of N70,000 is insufficient, as it can barely purchase a 50kg bag of rice in some parts of the country. He warned that the “patience of Nigerians” is being tested by advisers who are more interested in their positions than the welfare of the masses. Ndume’s comments reflect a growing tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as various factions prepare for the 2027 electoral cycle.
Call for a “Special Presidential Priority” for the North-East
Despite his criticisms, Ndume continues to advocate for targeted federal intervention in the North-East region, which has suffered from decades of insurgency. He called on President Tinubu to launch “Special Presidential Priority Projects” to rebuild the roads and railways that have collapsed. He commended the North-East Governors’ Forum for their coordinated efforts but insisted that the federal government must provide the “heavy lifting” through the 2026 appropriation bill.
The senator’s stance has often put him at odds with the party leadership, leading to his previous removal from a principal position. However, Ndume remains unbowed, stating that his observations are born out of “patriotism” rather than malice. He urged the President to “do something before it is too late” and to reorganize his cabinet to include veterans who understand the “National” pulse.
As the “war of words” continues in Abuja, the Presidency has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the senator’s claims about the President’s aides. For Ndume, the mission remains clear: to act as the “conscience of the people” within a government he helped bring to power. Whether the President will heed the call to reshuffle his inner circle remains a subject of intense speculation in the capital.
