Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno, has claimed that Mr. Daniel Bwala, a former critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC), can only be a political liability to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Mr. Bwala, a lawyer turned politician, previously affiliated with the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), recently defected to support President Tinubu. Following this move, Bwala accused Senator Ndume in various forums after Ndume expressed concerns about the increasing hunger and insecurity under the current administration during an interview with Arise TV. This interview resulted in Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip and Vice Chairman of Appropriation by the APC National Working Committee and the Senate Caucus.
Bwala tweeted on Friday, alleging that Ndume was planning to mobilize youths in his local government area, Hawul, to attack him. Hawul is one of the constituencies represented by Senator Ndume.
Responding to journalists at his Maiduguri residence over the weekend, Senator Ndume criticized Bwala, questioning his claims of being an indigene of Hawul and dismissing him as an “empty drum making noise in Abuja.”
Ndume clarified his position, stating that his interview on Arise TV did not involve personal attacks on President Tinubu but was merely a critique of certain policies. He added, “Ordinarily, I do not want to join the issue or wouldn’t have replied to Mr. Bwala who claimed to be from Hawul local government area which is part of my constituency.”
Ndume continued, “I can describe Daniel Bwala as a failed lawyer and empty drum making noise in Abuja. As I said, I did not want to respond, but because Bwala talked about threats or that I am mobilizing youths to attack him, which has security implications and is very sensitive. I believe Bwala’s strategy is to get the attention and sympathy of Mr. President to give him police cover and maybe a job.”
“We have credible people in the Hawul local government area, and they know who Daniel Bwala is. In fact, when I saw his message on X handle, I thought it was Inuwa Bwala, the former Caretaker Chairman of Hawul and a renowned journalist. I quickly drew his attention to it, and he said it was not him,” Ndume concluded.
News Editor