By Okeke Eunice
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume to share his advice with President Bola Tinubu privately rather than publicly criticizing the government’s policies.
In an interview with a national television on Sunday, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim emphasized that while everyone has the right to express their views in a democracy, prominent figures like Ndume should consider their words carefully before making public statements.
Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, had called on the President to address the hardships faced by citizens before it becomes too late.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Ndume alleged that certain negative influences close to Tinubu were promoting detrimental reforms and policies intended to destabilize the government.
“Those determined to tarnish the President’s image will do whatever it takes to cause suffering for Nigerians through these so-called reforms until the situation spirals out of control, at which point the blame will fall on President Tinubu,” he remarked.
The senator also urged the Tinubu administration to tackle the hardships resulting from hyperinflation, which has been exacerbated by frequent increases in the prices of essential goods and services.
Ndume’s latest comments come just months after the APC requested the Senate to remove him from his role as Senate Chief Whip due to his ongoing public criticisms of President Tinubu and the ruling party he is part of.
He later issued an apology and was forgiven by the APC, which requested that the Senate reinstate him as Chief Whip. However, the Senate has not yet restored Ndume to that position.
When asked on Sunday whether the ruling APC was worried about Ndume’s recent public advice to the President, APC National Publicity Director Ibrahim stated that Ndume should proceed with caution.
He stated, “In a democracy, individuals have the right to express their opinions and share their views without fear of suppression. Ali Ndume serves as one of the President’s informal advisers. If you belong to the same party as the President, it’s important to share certain insights with him, as he is responsible for implementing the party’s policies and agenda.
“As a senior party member, a legislator, and a former Chief Whip, Ndume acts as an adviser to all leaders within our party. Therefore, he has private channels to communicate with them without needing to go public. People must recognize their positions and understand that they have followers who will judge them based on their words and actions.
“Many hold Ndume in high regard, so he must choose his words carefully to avoid being misquoted or misinterpreted. However, I believe he is acting in good faith. It remains to be seen whether the APC will express disappointment or consider any sanctions in response to his statements.”
This situation follows three months after Ndume was removed from his role as Chief Whip for publicly embarrassing the President during a live appearance on Arise TV.
The Borno lawmaker alleged that Tinubu had been isolated and kept from understanding the struggles faced by Nigerians, a claim that angered the ruling party.