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'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - In a sharp rebuttal to recent comments made by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised the senator to desist from what it termed as "unhelpful attention-seeking media posturing."
Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South and serves as the Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, had made headlines by alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been "caged" and is unaware of the country’s pressing challenges. The APC, in a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, labeled Ndume’s assertions as both "haughty" and "unnecessary."
The APC emphasized that Senator Ndume, as a member of the National Assembly, has ample avenues to address any national concerns he may have, including direct access to the federal government’s machinery. The statement questioned whether the senator had adequately utilized these platforms before resorting to public outcry.
"It is understandable if Senator Ndume feels frustrated by his suggested inability to access the President," the statement read. "But that does not warrant or justify his outlandish declaration that the President has been caged in some way or ensconced from the reality of conditions in the country."
The APC criticized Ndume’s remarks as stemming from a misplaced sense of entitlement, stressing that President Tinubu is diligently fulfilling the duties for which he was elected. The statement highlighted the president’s recent activities, including the inauguration of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and the launch of the Economic Stabilization Programme aimed at addressing critical national issues such as food security, power supply, social welfare, healthcare, and economic transformation.
"Just about nine days ago, on July 4, 2024, the President inaugurated the PECC and launched the Economic Stabilization Programme to ensure food security, improved power supply, enhanced social welfare, healthcare, increased energy production, and general economic transformation," the APC noted.
The statement also mentioned President Tinubu’s engagement with labor leaders concerning the new minimum wage and his regular interactions with citizens and officials to address prevailing economic conditions and ensure the availability and affordability of essential commodities.
In response to Ndume’s claims, the APC underscored several recent executive actions taken by President Tinubu, including signing an Executive Order to reduce the high cost of drugs, approving tax waivers for the importation of certain food items, and directing the Armed Forces to combat terrorism.
"As a senior Party man and Senator of the Federal Republic, we urge Ndume to exercise restraint and quit his penchant for unhelpful attention-seeking media posturing," the APC admonished.
The party called for a united front in tackling the nation’s challenges, emphasizing the need for every stakeholder to contribute positively towards national transformation.
"Our dear country needs all hands to be on deck on the cusp of national transformation, each doing their part to remake the social, economic, and security conditions in the best interest of our people," the statement concluded.
