ABUJA: Borno South Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, saying he may dump the All-Progressives Congress (APC) if the president fails to effectively tackle Nigeria’s mounting problems.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, Ndume didn’t hold back. He criticized Tinubu’s leadership and used the opportunity to take aim at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently at odds with the Tinubu administration.
According to Ndume, El-Rufai is now facing the consequences of betraying former Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
Ndume, who served as Director-General of Amaechi’s presidential campaign, made it clear that his loyalty to the APC is not unconditional. If I decide to leave the APC, I will not hide it, Ndume said.
I still believe President Tinubu can fix things. Failure to fix those things may cause me to leave the APC.
He further warned that indiscriminate admission of defectors into the ruling party could destabilize the APC. If Tinubu continues this way, it doesn’t matter if he brings in more people or governors; you’re just endangering the APC.
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Ndume also revisited El-Rufai’s political decisions, accusing him of switching sides during the APC primaries. According to him, El-Rufai initially backed Amaechi but eventually supported Tinubu, a move that may now be backfiring.
El-Rufai was supposed to be on our side. Before Tinubu was nominated, he changed course. I think these are part of the things that are frustrating him.
Ndume went on to say that during El-Rufai’s ministerial screening, he and others in the Senate nearly approved him without resistance, but things took a different turn. But sometimes, I’ll say, okay o, you did that to us, it’s payback to yourself’.
El-Rufai, now with the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), has become an outspoken critic of Tinubu’s administration, especially after being excluded from the cabinet.
Earlier this month, while on Channels TV, Ndume alleged that certain presidential aides were misleading Tinubu and damaging his reputation.
The government has been hijacked by kleptocrats and kakistocrats, Ndume said, adding that these individuals are more focused on personal gain than national development.
Ndume’s latest comments highlight the growing unease within APC ranks and add pressure on President Tinubu to take decisive steps to address Nigeria’s worsening economic and political challenges.
