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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja, Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Nearly two years to the next general election, lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has warned President Bola Tinu that growing dissatisfaction and grumbling in the North over his alleged “neglect” would not augur well for his electoral fortunes.
Anybody that tells you that the North is not grumbling now is not telling the truth. It will be loud in their votes if nothing is done about it. The good thing about it is that the President can turn things around,” Ndume cautioned on Wednesday during an interview on ARISE Television’s Prime Time.
Ndume said growing dissatisfaction in the North could have electoral consequences if urgent steps are not taken to address prevailing concerns.
The lawmaker said northern leaders had made efforts to engage the President constructively, noting that he personally participated in meetings between Tinubu and northern elders.
In the North, northern elders have been reaching out. I was part of the first and the last meetings with Mr. President when northern elders went to him.
“He was prepared. He brought all the critical appointees from the North, and we had a wonderful session.”
According to Ndume, despite assurances from the President, the engagement process stalled shortly afterwards. “He promised that it would continue, but it never happened,” he said.
While absolving Tinubu of direct blame, Ndume argued that the President’s problems stem largely from the calibre of people around him.
“You know what I’m suspecting? The President is not the problem; it is the people around the President that are the problem.”
He contrasted Tinubu’s current leadership environment with his time as governor of Lagos State, which he said was marked by the presence of strong and capable advisers.
“The President had good people around him when he was governor of Lagos; that was why he succeeded,” Ndume said. “Most of the good people are not there now. They have been sidelined.
“He just picked people that don’t know anybody,” he said. “They only know Ikoyi and Victoria Island. And from there, they fly to London or America where their families are living. They are not even full Nigerians.
“Instead of bringing in his team that would look at him in the face and tell him the truth, he decided to surround himself with people that don’t know politics.”
He warned that unless the concerns being raised, particularly in the North, are addressed, the dissatisfaction could deepen and manifest strongly at the polls.
•End of APC’s dominance in North -CUPP
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has backed Senator Ndume on the claim that the actions and policies of President Tinubu will affect the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming 2027 presidential election.
CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, who supported Ndume’s claim, argued that President Tinubu has adopted divide and rule in the North, alleging that he has favoured more Christian Northerners than Muslims.
According to Ameh, Ndume’s warning signals the beginning of the end of APC’s dominance in the North.
“CUPP has taken keen note of the recent candid warning issued by Ndume, representing Borno South, regarding President Tinubu’s policies and their dire implications for the APC in the Northern region ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“Ndume’s revelation that there is widespread grumbling in the North against the Tinubu administration is not surprising but rather a confirmation of what many patriotic Nigerians have observed over the past years.
“President Tinubu’s governance has consistently maligned the North through neglect, insensitivity to the region’s profound suffering, and an over-concentration of attention and resources on his immediate geopolitical base in the Southwest.
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“This has manifested in hasty and poorly thought-out policy implementations that have exacerbated economic hardship, insecurity, and poverty, particularly in the North.
“It is instructive to recall that in the 2023 presidential election, the northern elite and voters played a pivotal role in securing President Tinubu’s victory, contributing significantly to the over 60 per cent of votes he garnered from the region. Yet, rather than reciprocate this support with inclusive governance, equitable resource distribution, and genuine engagement.
“The administration has adopted a divide-and-conquer tactic that has alienated the very stakeholders who ensured his ascent to power.
“This approach has not gone unnoticed. There is now a strong, silent but steadily growing discontent across the North—among the masses, traditional leaders, religious figures, and even within the political class—that are powerful enough to decisively drown any presidential ambition in 2027 if unaddressed.
“The North, which has historically been the kingmaker in Nigerian politics, will not be taken for granted again. CUPP commends Senator Ndume for his courage in speaking truth to power, even within his own party.
“His call should serve as a warning call to President Tinubu and the APC leadership: that his time is up. This Failure will inevitably lead to his electoral consequences that could redefine the political landscape of Nigeria.
“The Coalition of United Political Parties remains committed to advocating for a united, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria where no region is marginalized.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to demand accountability and good governance from those in power,” the statement he sent to the Daily Sun read.
Show progress reports to Northern leaders -Sani
Former Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Elder Anthony Sani, has faulted Senator Ndume’s position, particularly his alleged failure to keep on promises to address growing dissatisfaction in the North, saying appointees of Northern extraction in Tinubu’s government are more than enough
Sani challenged the appointees to show themselves to the Northern leaders just as they did last year, but this time around, to present progress report of their contributions to the region under President Tinubu’s administration.
“I appreciate Ndume’s concern precisely because he speaks in a representative capacity. The last time there were such simmering discontent by some northerners that the distribution of access to national resources by way of appointments,projects and contracts by President Bola Tinubu are skewed against the North, the president asked his appointees of northern region to explain to their kin and kith.
“They actually did and the interactions were helpful. I would suggest the appointees should repeat the visit to the northern leaders and table progress against plans.That way,the North would know whether the president has delivered on his promise.That is to say, whether there has been fair and equitable distribution of democratic dividend as promised or not”.
APC should look inward – Northern Christian Elders
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Northern Christian Elders Forum (NCF) has advised the APC to look inward and put its house in order if a member of the party, Senator Ndume could predict electoral trouble looming ahead of 2027 general elections, particularly in the North.
Chairman of the Forum, Elder Sunday Oibe said since Senator Ndume is a respected and vocal lawmaker, his comments should not be taken for granted.
“Senator Ndume is a respected but vocal senator of the APC family. And if a member of the ruling party is crying and complaining like the opposition , they should look inward. As for whether the issues raised by the senator are sufficient enough to affect their electoral fortunes, should be left for the Nigeria electorate to decide.
“As a very senior member of the ruling party, I think, this is an indictment on all of them. However, that should be left for Nigerians to decide. My question to all those clamouring and disturbing the ear of an ordinary Nigerian who is crying not knowing where his or her next meal will come from about 2027 is misplaced.”
Elder Oibe, however, expressed worry over the rush into issues of 2027 general elections by politicians, and called for provision of dividends of democracy first.
“How many of us can categorically tell if he or she will live to see the so-called 2027? Instead of focusing on delivering the dividend of democracy, Nigeria politicians are busy making the noise about 2027 that might not come. 2027 is in God’s hands and only him can determine what 2027 holds”. Oibe said.
