Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has raised concerns about what he perceives as a deliberate effort by certain individuals to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Ndume claims these forces are exacerbating Nigeria’s economic challenges, causing widespread suffering through harsh reforms and skyrocketing prices.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Ndume outlined the growing economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians, particularly the poor, who are struggling with the unaffordability of basic goods and services. “The astronomical increase in prices of fuel, food, essential goods, and services is becoming unaffordable to average Nigerians and the poor who make up the majority of the population,” Ndume said, emphasizing that the situation is quickly becoming unbearable.
The senator, who is also a ranking member of the National Assembly, suggested that some influential figures within the administration are pushing harmful policies that are not in the best interest of Nigerians. “The bad elements are trying hard to pitch the people against the administration by pushing for harsh reforms and bad policies instead of controlling inflation and exchange rates,” he stated.
Ndume further accused these individuals of deliberately trying to discredit President Tinubu. “Those who are bent on making the President look bad will stop at nothing in inflicting pains on Nigerians through the so-called reforms until things get out of hand and the blame will be on President Tinubu,” he warned.
The senator also expressed his personal belief in President Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians, but suggested that some advisers are misleading him. “I personally believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria and Nigerians. I know this because I know what he stands for. But some of his advisers who don’t mean well for the people of this country give him wrong advice,” Ndume said.
Highlighting the extreme difficulty many Nigerians are facing, especially in his home state of Borno, Ndume said many families are unable to afford even basic food and transportation. “In Borno State here, many families can’t even feed anymore. The untold hardship of these frequent increases in prices is unimaginable,” he stated. “Farmers can’t even move their farm products anymore because of the high cost of transportation.”
The senator also pointed to the high cost of travel, making it difficult for Nigerians to move within the country. “To travel by road from Abuja to Maiduguri, for instance, is a fortune. How many of our people can afford that?” Ndume questioned, further emphasizing the everyday struggles faced by many Nigerians.
Ndume urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to address these economic challenges. “As soon as the President returns to Nigeria, I urge him to look into these issues and address them urgently. The purchasing power of Nigerians is too poor, and they can’t afford the things that are being pushed on them every day by enemies of the state,” he said.