Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has launched a scathing attack on Daniel Bwala, a former aide to Atiku Abubakar, labelling him a “failed lawyer” and a political liability to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The conflict escalated following Ndume’s recent criticism of President Tinubu and Bwala’s riposte against the senator.
Ndume had accused forces within the Presidential Villa of isolating President Bola Tinubu and shielding him from genuine voices that could provide him with accurate information.
“Mister President is not aware of what’s happening outside the villa. He’s been fenced off and caged.
“The unavailability of food is exacerbating an already severe crisis. Mr President 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.
“Now, they have stopped him from talking and he doesn’t have public affairs managers, except that his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who writes press statements.
“Nigerians are getting very, very angry. The government is not doing anything about the food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have food reserve.”
He stressed that the food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation could encounter.
After Bwala criticized Ndume for his comments against the president, he alleged that Ndume was planning to mobilize youths to attack him in his local government area, Hawul, a claim Ndume has vehemently denied.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Maiduguri, Ndume addressed the allegations, stating, “It is unfortunate that Bwala, who claims to be an indigene of Hawul, cannot even trace his actual roots there.”
Advising President Tinubu to be wary of Bwala, Ndume remarked, “Bwala is just a mad dog who barks and bites even the owner.
“Tinubu should be careful with the likes of Bwala. He was once a member of the APC but switched allegiances to Atiku Abubakar and used abusive language against Tinubu on live television.”
Ndume criticized Bwala for seeking attention from President Tinubu, suggesting that Bwala’s strategy is to secure a police cover and possibly a job from the president.
He described Bwala as “an empty drum making noise in Abuja” and a figure with no political relevance in Southern Borno.
Responding to Bwala’s accusations about mobilizing youths for violence, Ndume emphasized the peaceful nature of Hawul’s residents, stating, “Bwala is trying to portray the peace-loving youths as violent people, but you can’t instigate Hawul people to go into political violence.”
Ndume also clarified his stance on President Tinubu’s policies, explaining that his criticism on Arise TV was aimed at some policies he believes are counterproductive to average Nigerians, and not an attack on the president himself.
Ndume’s criticisms of the president generated controversy within the ruling All Progressives Congress and its caucus in the senate leading to Ndume’s removal as senate whip.
In addition to being stripped of his position as Chief Whip, he was also removed from his role as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
