A former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has alleged that presidential aides who are supposed to support President Bola Tinubu are instead misleading him on important national matters. He also noted that some of these aides are damaging the President’s image.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume expressed concern that the administration is controlled by individuals more interested in personal gain than public service. He said the government appears to have been taken over by what he called “kleptocrats” and “kakistocrats.”
Ndume explained, “Kakistocrats are people holding positions they are not supposed to be in, while kleptocrats are those in politics for personal gain, not public service.” He did not name specific people but said the harm being done is clear and serious.
“I see people lying and telling the president what he wants to hear. My position is that the people who are supposed to help him are the ones deceiving him or damaging his image,” Ndume said.
The senator, who represents Borno South, lamented that instead of being a support to the President, some aides have “kidnapped” the presidency. He criticized them as unrealistic and warned that nothing will change unless the President acts or they change their ways.
Ndume also pointed out a disconnect between the presidency and the ordinary people in Nigeria. He noted that the government seems unaware of the difficulties faced by citizens because of economic challenges.
“The president cannot go out to the streets like I do 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 said. He added that President Tinubu acknowledges the hardship Nigerians face and has asked for their patience.
The senator urged the President to listen more carefully to lawmakers and officials who have close ties to ordinary people. He warned that relying on a small, isolated group of advisers could worsen the country’s problems.
“It is the people like us who 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,” Ndume said.
