Senator representing Borno South and Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has raised the alarm over what he called an emerging cabal in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Senator Ndume, who commended President Tinubu for his suspension of embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, for proper investigation of financial sleaze in her ministry, however, declared that the suspended minister did not act alone but in connivance with certain individuals who have since formed a cartel in Tinubu’s Presidency.
He said if not curtailed, the emerging cabal could destabilise his administration.
Senator Ndume said the removal of Ms Edu would send a strong signal to other ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet that their principal would not tolerate corruption.
He said the move would restore Nigerians’ confidence in his government and they would begin to take his administration seriously.
He said: “What President Tinubu has done is very timely. The suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is a welcome development. It will allow the relevant agencies to conduct a proper investigation.
“Some people in the same position as Tinubu would not have acted. But as a leader who is in charge, he acted swiftly and the minister has been suspended.
“We should commend the president. This is something Nigerians should commend.
“But the president should not stop there. There is an emerging political cartel within the corridors of power. The president must act swiftly and dismantle the cartel.
“I don’t think what the minister did was an isolated case. I don’t think she acted alone. The president needs to look deep and flush out those involved in mismanaging the funds meant for humanitarian assistance. We’re hopeful that the president will take more decisive actions in the future.”
On the security situation in the country, the former chairman Senate Committee on Army asked President Tinubu to revisit the issue of motivation of security agents, especially members of the Armed Forces.
He said the president needs to equip, empower and motivate security agents to enable them carry out their responsibilities decisively.
The Senate Chief Whip said soldiers and other members of the Armed Forces fighting insurgency are not well-equipped, motivated or empowered to fight the war adequately.
