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.
