Senator Ndume says Tinubu's aides are dependents who cannot correct him

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, told Trust TV on Friday, June 21, 2026, that President Bola Tinubu's inner circle consists largely of people who depend on him financially and therefore cannot tell him when he is wrong. Ndume said he has met the president only twice since Tinubu took office in 2023 and asserted that roughly 95 percent of those around Tinubu are his dependents. He argued that this dependency prevents honest counsel, leaving the president surrounded by yes-men who will not challenge faulty policies.

The comment highlights concerns about accountability and decision-making within the presidency. If senior aides are financially beholden to the president, critical policy debates may be stifled, potentially affecting economic reforms, security policies, and governance quality—issues that directly affect ordinary Nigerians' livelihoods, security, and cost of living.

Given this claim, citizens might ask what institutional safeguards—such as strengthened legislative oversight, independent advisory panels, or whistle-blower protections—are needed to ensure that power is checked and that leaders receive honest feedback regardless of personal loyalties.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/26/tinubu-has-people-around-who-cant-tell-him-when-hes-wrong-ndume/