By Parrot Newspaper Ndume to Tinubu: “You Should Be Worried If Buhari’s Not on Your Side”
By Parrot Newspaper
Senator Ali Ndume isn’t one to mince words — and this time, he’s sending a clear warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Don’t sleep on Buhari’s influence.
Appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Ndume dropped a few sharp takes, saying Tinubu has every reason to be concerned if former President Muhammadu Buhari isn’t firmly in his corner. Sure, Buhari might just have one vote like every other citizen, but in Northern Nigeria, that one vote carries the weight of a thousand.
“Buhari’s popularity may have taken a natural dip since leaving office — that happens to every leader. But don’t be fooled, the man’s still got a kind of loyalty around him that you just can’t explain,” Ndume said. “It’s almost occultic,” he added, not holding back on the intensity of Buhari’s grassroots support.
And if you think Ndume is just talking about Buhari, think again. With a sly grin, he reminded Tinubu: “He should be worried about my position too — I also have one vote. He doesn’t have a vote for me.”
This fiery exchange came on the heels of some interesting political footwork. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside top opposition figures, paid Buhari a visit at his Kaduna home on Friday — a move that has tongues wagging and speculations swirling.
Ndume, not to be left out of the action, revealed he’s planning his own trip to see the former President. According to him, Buhari still has the magic to draw a crowd anywhere, anytime. “If Buhari steps into town, even the vegetable market women will drop what they’re doing and rush to see him,” he quipped.
The tension within the APC is bubbling. The once-powerful CPC bloc, which Buhari led into the APC merger in 2013, is showing signs of restlessness. Behind closed doors, APC governors reportedly pleaded with Buhari to calm the waters and prevent a flood of defections — especially as the 2027 elections creep closer.
Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai has already jumped ship to the SDP, and whispers are growing louder about ex-ministers from Buhari’s cabinet preparing to follow suit. Katsina, Buhari’s home state, is seeing similar moves, with APC members crossing over to the SDP.
What’s got APC so jittery? Simple: Buhari’s influence in the North isn’t just a memory — it’s a living, breathing force. And if he ever chooses to wield it against his old party, the damage could be catastrophic.
As it stands, the game is far from over, and every visit, every handshake, and every word counts.