Senator Sunday Karimi has delivered a stinging rebuke to fellow lawmaker, Senator Ali Ndume, challenging him to direct his energy toward solving the insurgency plaguing his region instead of accusing President Bola Tinubu of ethnic favoritism in political appointments.
In a strongly worded statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Karimi said Ndume’s recent comments alleging a lopsidedness in appointments under the Tinubu administration amounted to playing to the gallery at a time when Nigeria faces existential threats from terrorism and insecurity.
“For a leader representing one of the most insurgency-hit zones in the country, Senator Ndume should focus on rallying his people and collaborating with the government to find grassroots solutions to insecurity. What we need now is leadership, not theatrics,” Karimi said.
He noted that over 50% of Nigeria’s earnings in recent years have been channeled into fighting insurgency—much of it focused in Ndume’s Borno South—and accused the senator of failing to match rhetoric with local action.
“The nation has bled soldiers, youth, and resources in Borno. In just three weeks, I lost a promising young army captain from my constituency who died in Ndume’s community fighting to secure the area. These are the real sacrifices being made—this is the real story,” Karimi added.
The Kogi West senator pointed to his own intervention in the fight against insecurity by facilitating a military base in Egbe, Yagba West LGA, as an example of what proactive leadership looks like.
“This is not the time for blame games or divisive commentary. It’s the time to roll up sleeves and contribute meaningfully to national peace and security,” he stressed.
Karimi was reacting to remarks made by Ndume on a national TV program, where the Borno senator accused President Tinubu of sidelining non-Yoruba regions in his appointments. The Presidency swiftly countered the claim, with Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga accusing Ndume of peddling false narratives and seeking media attention.
Karimi’s remarks underscored a broader call for Nigerian leaders to rise above ethnic sentiments and focus on results that impact the lives of their people.
“Our problems won’t be solved on television shows. They’ll be solved in communities, in dialogue, in action. That’s where Senator Ndume’s energy should be,” Karimi concluded.