Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and having served as Senate Leader in the 8th National Assembly and Chief Whip in the 10th, shared his insights with The Nigerian Tribune on the pressing security challenges facing Nigeria.
While he was drawing from his tenure as chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, he offered an insider’s perspective on the debate over whether the nation can manage its security solely through domestic forces or requires external military support.
When asked whether he thought the President was overwhelmed by the security situation, Ndume disagreed. He argued that the problem lies not with the President being overburdened, but with the approach being taken.
He criticized the over-centralization of power around the President, emphasizing that while the buck stops at the Commander-in-Chief’s table, governance should be collaborative—“of the people, for the people, and by the people,” rather than revolving solely around one individual.
On the role of the National Assembly, Ndume noted that while Nigerians often accuse lawmakers of indifference, he clarified that he does not hold a leadership position in the current Assembly.
He suggested that criticisms of the legislature as a whole should not be directed at him personally, but when the interviewer pressed, reminding him of his influence as a former Senate Leader and Chief Whip, Ali Ndume said, “But what am I now? I am nobody. I am not even a committee chairman. I don’t even have an office.”
If you love political news or like to get more news happening around the globe, use the button below to get more verified news happening around Nigeria and the world today.
Leave a Reply