The senator representing Borno South senatorial district at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against being carried away by the barrage of endorsements for a second term in office, reminding him of how former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 received similar endorsements by 22 governors which did not translate to victory at the polls as he was woefully defeated.
Ndume, who never shies away from speaking truth to power, spoke on Channels Television programme, Sunday Politics, during which he distanced himself from the recent endorsement by leaders of the party at the recent national summit of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, emphasising that the endorsement does not mean anything.
The Borno senator whose state has for some time now, witnessed a resurgence in Boko Haram terrorism, also lamented the worsening insecurity in the north and other parts of the country, disclosing how Tukur Buratai, retired Army Lieutenant General, and former Chief of Army Staff escaped death by the whiskers on Friday after his convoy came under a heavy gunfire at his Buratai community.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the National Working Committee, NEC, of the party led by the national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Assembly as well as the 22-member Progressive Governors’ Forum on May 22, 2025, unanimously endorsed President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The ranking senator who had represented his Borno South senatorial district since 2003, Ndume, said he walked out of the Presidential Villa’s Banquet Hall when the endorsement was announced.
Expressing his stance against the endorsement, Ndume poohpoohed the president’s ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, declaring that “Nigerians cannot see any hope, they are doubting the Renewed Hope”.
According to him, “I was there but that was not why I was there; I was there for a summit and when I realised that it was not a summit and voice vote was put about the endorsement of Mr. President, I just left, and that does not mean I am not an APC member. The majority had its way but few of us felt that was not right.
“It happened before, not once, not twice. It happened during Jonathan. That does not mean anything. Politicians are decamping but the people who are the voters are not decamping.
“I hope that he would look back historically and see that the gathering of people to endorse you does not mean anything.
“Jonathan had 22 governors then endorsing him like was done now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully. A lot of money was spent. Even the election was shifted but we are not learning our lessons. I pity Mr. President.”
On worsening insecurity and the attack on General Buratai who was chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, Senator Ndume lamented that “We are in a dire security situation. Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno. His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets”.
The former chairman of the senate committee on the Army, said the terrorists targeted high-value equipment including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs), tanks, and machine guns, disclosing that in some cases, they not only destroy these assets but also make away with weaponry and equipment.
According to him, “The situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly. Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis”.
He however expressed concern that the rising insecurity is not limited only to the north as violent conflicts, banditry, and sabotage have spread across the nation, noting that “All six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges to varying degrees.
“Even in the South-South, we are grappling with economic sabotage like oil theft. At this point, the South-West appears to be the only relatively safe region”.