Amaechi, a former minister of transportation, contested the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polling second behind eventual winner Tinubu.

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Ndume, who led Amaechi’s campaign team at the time, even after the former minister lost the primary to Tinubu, he still worked to ensure the latter’s victory in the election.

The Borno senator said the president reached out to both of them after the primaries, expressing an interest in working together, but never followed through on his promise.

“I’m 65. I have been in this business for 24 years. God has given everything to me. The only thing I have to do right now, and I prefer to die doing it, is to speak the truth and do what is right,” Ndume said.

“That’s why I will not jump ship, but when the ship is getting overloaded with unnecessary cargo and may capsize, I’d better consider and watch out for the small ship.

“We had 316 votes. We gave them a good fight. And then after that, we thought things would go on fine, actually, because I remember vividly that Tinubu, the governor of Lagos, the current minister of defence — who else — came to call me to say he [Tinubu] wanted to come and meet with me and Amaechi.

“So we agreed. And at that time, I remember I was to go for hajj. And so the president said, ‘look, we want you to come on board and let’s work together’.

“And we agreed, and then we agreed that we’d meet after I came back, and that meeting did not hold. That was how they abandoned Amaechi.

“Amaechi worked for the president. I can tell you that. He was part of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).”

Ndume said while Amaechi was overlooked, Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor, fully  with Tinubu.

“El-Rufai was supposed to be on our side, but somehow, he moved over. And I think these are part of the things that are annoying or frustrating him,” the senator said.

“He was on our side — Amaechi’s side. Before Tinubu was nominated, he had made up his mind to support Tinubu, and Tinubu, as he rightly said, told him not to leave and to come on board and join the government.

“You know, he really mobilised. He did a lot of things. Tinubu asked him to join the government, but somehow, up till now, I don’t understand what happened between el-Rufai and Tinubu — but that is not my business.

“But sometimes, I’ll say, ‘okay o, you did that to us — it’s payback to yourself.’ But I cannot understand. I was the chief whip.

“El-Rufai came to the chamber [for ministerial screening], and we almost told him to take a bow and go or just lay out some plans. I am not el-Rufai’s fan or friend or anything, but the truth must be told.”

Ndume also criticised Tinubu’s style of governance, saying the president is surrounded by people who cannot tell him the truth.

“You see, that was where Mr. President got it wrong. You don’t form your government with dependents,” he said.

“The worst part of it is that the president is a kingmaker, remember? So when a kingmaker becomes a king, then there is a problem.

“He must identify himself so he can have people who will stand up to him and tell him the truth. That is what is lacking in this government.”

Ndume said the current administration is being run by “kakistocrats and kleptocrats”.