The Presidency has responded sharply to recent criticism by Senator Ali Ndume over alleged lopsided appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the lawmaker’s remarks as hypocritical and divisive.
Ndume, representing Borno South, had accused President Tinubu of violating the constitution through appointments that he claimed were unbalanced and unfairly distributed across regions. His comments sparked widespread discussion and debate, particularly regarding the President’s approach to inclusivity in government.
In a statement he shared, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed Ndume’s claims, stating, “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 defended the President’s appointment strategy, asserting, “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.”
He urged the senator to be more responsible in his public statements. “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,” Onanuga said.
He also pointed out what he termed as Ndume’s selective memory regarding appointments that benefit his region. “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 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?”
Onanuga further criticized Ndume’s political conduct, stating, “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.”
He concluded by reaffirming the President’s commitment to national unity. “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.”
