President Tinubu is my mentor– Senator Ndume clarifies stance on criticisms
President Tinubu is my mentor– Senator Ndume clarifies stance on criticisms
Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has reaffirmed his admiration for President Bola Tinubu while clarifying his stance on government policies and constructive criticism.
In an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today”, Ndume emphasized his long-standing relationship with the president and called Tinubu one of his mentors.
“I am not a critic of the government; it’s our government. President Tinubu is one of my mentors,” Ndume said, making it clear that his criticisms are not personal but are aimed at policies that he believes can be improved for the betterment of Nigeria.
Addressing a widely circulated photo of him and Tinubu appearing cheerful, Ndume shared a lighthearted exchange he had with the president.
He recalled, “He always says that I don’t come to the Villa. I told him that he didn’t ask me to, and he said I can come tonight.” Ndume also revealed that Tinubu had promised to attend his daughter’s wedding despite it coinciding with the Nigerian Army Remembrance Day.
“After the ceremony, I was expecting him to leave. He said he is not going anywhere; that he is going to attend the wedding. That is what actually happened,” Ndume explained.
While the senator made it clear that his criticisms are not directed at President Tinubu personally, he emphasized that he holds a policy-focused approach.
“In all of my critiques, I don’t criticise my elders. Tinubu is my senior, I respect him, though I disagree with him in some cases to ensure we agree on the betterment of Nigeria,” Ndume said, noting that he had similarly criticised policies under former President Buhari.
“I criticised policies of Buhari, but I’m closer to Tinubu than Buhari.”
Ndume has been vocal about his opposition to certain government proposals, such as the tax reform bills sent by President Tinubu. In November, he described the tax reform proposals as “dead on arrival,” arguing that the government should focus on reducing, not increasing, the tax burden on Nigerians.
“Our people are saying they don’t want the VAT bill, they don’t even want to hear about it. That is why we are going to make it dead on arrival,” he stated, urging Tinubu to heed the advice of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the Northern Governors’ Forum to withdraw the bills.
As the government continues to navigate its policies, Ndume has urged the president to prioritize the implementation of the federal budget, focusing on security and the welfare of citizens.
“I have always said it to Mr. President: implement the budget, and Nigerians will be happy. Concentrate on two things: security and welfare of citizens, and then every other thing will come,” Ndume concluded, stressing the need for targeted attention to critical national issues.
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President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.
It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.
The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.
Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)
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APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)
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282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.
The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.
He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.
“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.
“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”
“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.
Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.
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