Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has ignited a political firestorm by criticizing the proposed relocation of departments from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.
Ndume, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Senate Majority Leader, alleges that President Bola Tinubu is being misled by “political cartels” and “Lagos boys” close to the seat of power. “The President is being ill-advised,” Ndume declared during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday. “These Lagos boys are pushing him towards wrong decisions.”
The Senator’s accusations have sent shockwaves through the political landscape, raising concerns about potential undue influence and regional bias in government decision-making. The proposed relocation of key financial and aviation regulatory bodies from the federal capital to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, has been a contentious issue since its announcement in early January.
Ndume’s attack on “Lagos boys” specifically targets a perceived inner circle of advisors and confidantes close to President Tinubu, many of whom hail from his political stronghold of Lagos state. This claim has sparked accusations of regionalism and tribalism, injecting further tension into the already heated debate.
