The Presidency has lambasted Senator Ali Ndume over his claims of lopsided appointments by President Bola Tinubu.
Senator Ndume while speaking during a program, ‘Prime Time’ on Arise Television alleged lopsided political appointments by the President Tinubu-led administration.
According to him, the lopsided appointments were against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, therefore, called for a change.
Ndume quoted Section 14, subsection (3) of the Nigerian Constitution which states that the composition of the government and its agencies should reflect the federal character of Nigeria, promoting national unity and loyalty, and preventing any single group from dominating government or its agencies.
Reacting to Ndume’s claim, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said “Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst on TV about so-called “lopsided appointments” by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception.”
Onanuga said while the Borno senator grandstanded as a moral authority on equity, he forgot to tell his interviewer that two of his kinsmen featured in recent NNPC Limited top appointments.
The SA disclosed that the Chairman, appointed by President Tinubu, is from Ndume’s senatorial district.
“If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so “tribal,” how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles? As a politician, Ndume has proven time and time again that he is allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics.
“His habit of firing half-baked criticisms—only to be contradicted by facts—proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble rousing, stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism,” Onanuga said.
He noted that President Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations.
“He aims to harness our nation’s diverse strengths to achieve a common goal: building a prosperous Nigeria.
“The President’s appointments are—and will continue to be—based on merit, integrity, geographical spread and a demonstrable capacity to serve the Nigerian people, not Ndume’s cherry-picked tribal arithmetic.
“We urge Ndume to elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism. This is a disservice to the nation and the behaviour least expected from a Nigerian Senator,” he said.
