Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate representing Borno South Senatorial District, has made startling claims about President Bola Tinubu’s awareness of the current food crisis in Nigeria. In a briefing with journalists at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday, Ndume alleged that the President has been isolated from the realities facing many Nigerians.
Ndume stated, “Mr President (Bola Tinubu) is not in the picture of what is happening outside the Villa. He has been fenced off and caged. So many of us won’t go through the backdoor to engage him.”
The Senator, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed concern about what he perceives as a lack of action on food security issues. He warned of potentially severe consequences if the situation is not addressed promptly.
“Nigerians are getting very, very angry. The government is not doing anything about food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have a food reserve,” Ndume said.
He added, “Food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to the security crisis, it will be severe.”
The Explainer learned Ndume’s comments come in the wake of a motion he co-sponsored during Tuesday’s plenary session, which aimed to draw attention to the looming food insecurity in the country. The Senate subsequently urged the federal government to take immediate action on the matter.
The Senator called on President Tinubu to broaden his circle of advisors and engage with those who can provide an accurate picture of the nation’s challenges.
“The president should wake up, it seems he isn’t in the picture of what is happening because he has been caged off. He has been fenced off by plutocrats,” Ndume said.
In response to the food security concerns raised, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced plans to distribute approximately 60 trucks of fertilizer to each state through the governors before the weekend. Additionally, serving senators are set to receive two trucks of fertilizer each, while members of the House of Representatives will receive one.
