Presidency, Senator Ndume Trade Words Over Alleged Lopsided FG Appointments
Presidency, Senator Ndume Trade Words Over Alleged Lopsided Appointments
Senator Ali Ndume
The presidency has Senator Ali Ndume’s latest criticism on Arise TV about “lopsided appointments” by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an outburst that that reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs stated as follows:
“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?
“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.
“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.”
Bayo OniMAGENews recalls that Ndume had on Monday faulted Tinubu’s appointments, citing breach of federal character.
The senator representing Borno South criticised President Bola Tinubu over what he described as non-compliance with the federal character principle in political appointments.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time, the lawmaker accused the President of violating the constitutional requirement for balanced representation in government appointments.
Ndume pointed to Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that political appointments reflect the country’s diversity.
“The figures are there. You can look at the figures. I sent you one. I sent you figures. It’s not that I’m just making accusations. And it’s not that I’m saying, well, the president has no right to do that kind of thing. But it’s a constitutional provision. Section 13, I mean, Section 14 (3) of the constitution is very, very clear,” he said.
The senator added that the current appointments fail to align with the federal character principle as outlined by law.
“When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and there are political appointments, the constitution is very clear.
“It is because of avoiding such infractions that the constitution clearly states that appointments, especially political appointments, should reflect the federal character, and that is not the case here.
And all I am saying is to call the attention of Mr President to such infractions so that it can be corrected; otherwise, you know, these things can boomerang at a certain period of time”, Ndume stated.
Ndume, a senior member of the National Assembly, clarified that his comments were not meant as a personal attack on the President but rather a duty tied to his role as a lawmaker.
“I know, as you rightly say, people look at me as somebody that is critical of the government. I have the right to do that in the first place. And in fact, that’s why I’m in the National Assembly in the first place.
“Collectively, we are supposed to oversight the acts of Mr President and point out some of these irregularities. That is what we swore to do. It’s not personal”, he added.
Addressing potential backlash for his remarks, Ndume remained resolute.
“Each one of us will stand before God, and God will ask him to account for what he is responsible for. Besides, we are all in this government. What will we tell our people? When you have these figures out, it is already viral, it is already in circulation.
“But you know what, after this interview, those attack dogs or maga-dogs will start attacking Ndume, not the message.
“It is not about Ndume or me being a senator. As a Nigerian, I have the right to voice out all these things. Not only that, I have the right to even protest. I have the right. That is guaranteed by the constitution. But from tomorrow, those so-called Tinubu boys or people will start attacking Ndume. These are the facts”, said Senator Ndume.
