WEDNESDAY April 9, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
The presidency on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, dismissed recent claims by Senator Ali Ndume accusing President Bola Tinubu of lopsided appointments, describing the remarks as hypocritical, divisive, and lacking factual grounding. Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, Ndume, the senator representing Borno South, said Tinubu’s appointments have not reflected the diversity mandated by section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution.
He described the appointments as violations of the constitutional provision for federal character. However, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency cautioned Ndume against what it described as “headline-chasing” and “rabble-rousing” tactics.
Onanuga said Ndume’s latest comments during a television interview were misleading and designed to stoke ethnic tension rather than offer constructive criticism.
“Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst on TV about so-called ‘lopsided appointments’ by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception.
“While grandstanding as a moral authority on equity, he conveniently ignored the fact that two of his own kinsmen were recently appointed to top positions at NNPC Limited—one of whom is from his senatorial district and was appointed Chairman by the President”, the statement noted.
The presidency emphasised that President Tinubu remains committed to building an inclusive administration that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and is rooted in merit, capacity, integrity, and national spread.
“The President’s appointments are—and will continue to be—based on merit, integrity, geographical spread, and demonstrable capacity to serve the Nigerian people, not Ndume’s cherry-picked tribal arithmetic,” Onanuga stated.
Calling on the senator to “elevate public discourse,” the presidency warned that inflammatory and misleading remarks from a ranking lawmaker could erode public trust and undermine national unity.
“Ndume has proven time and again to be allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics. His habit of firing half-baked criticisms— only to be contradicted by facts—suggests he is more interested in stoking divisive narratives than engaging with national issues responsibly,” the statement noted.
The presidency concluded by reaffirming its commitment to inclusive governance, urging political leaders to uphold decorum and prioritise national interest over personal or ethnic grievances.
Presidency Berates Ndume Over Allegations Of Lopsided Appointments
