By peterside Rejoice Eneky
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that it has been overtaken by individuals driven by greed and incompetence.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, June 8, the former Senate Chief Whip accused some of Tinubu’s closest advisers of misleading the president and isolating him from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
“I see people lying and telling the President what he wants to hear,” Ndume said during the interview. “The people who are supposed to help him are deceiving him and damaging his image.”
Ndume described the President’s inner circle as being dominated by kleptocrats those seeking power for personal financial gain and kakistocrats unqualified individuals occupying critical leadership roles.
“They are unrealistic people. I said it before and I’m not changing my position until they change or the President does something.”
While he stopped short of naming individuals, Ndume’s frustration was clear. He emphasized that the government appears disconnected from the real economic pain faced by Nigerians, and that those surrounding the president are worsening the situation.
“The President cannot go out to the streets like myself and know how the people feel. Even outside the villa, they would drive him in tinted glass, so he doesn’t even see what is going on.”
Ndume insisted that voices from the grassroots especially elected representatives should be taken more seriously in policy formation and implementation.
“It is the people like us that represent the public that should be listened to. Intelligence should come from those who are close to the ground. Things are very bad in the country.”
His comments add to a growing list of internal criticisms of the Tinubu administration, coming nearly a year into his tenure. They reflect rising discontent over the impact of economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and floating of the naira, which have triggered high inflation and deepened hardship for millions.
Ndume, however, warned that unless the president re-evaluates his advisers and reconnects with the real Nigeria, the administration risks losing public trust.
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