The Presidency has lashed out at the senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, over comments that President Bola Tinubu’s political appointments have been lopsided.
Ndume had, in an interview with Arise TV on Monday, April 7, 2025, described appointments by Tinubu as violations of the constitutional provision for federal character.
The senator said Tinubu’s appointments have not reflected the diversity mandated by section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution.
Reacting via a statement on Tuesday, April 8, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu’s appointments “are – and will continue to be – based on merit.”
Onanuga said Ndume failed to disclose to the public that two of the lawmaker’s kinsmen featured in recent Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited top appointments.
Onanuga stated that the NNPC Limited Chairman appointed by President Tinubu is from Ndume’s senatorial district.
He added: “If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so ‘tribal’, how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?
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“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.”
The presidential spokesman said Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations.
Onanuga stressed that the president aims to harness Nigeria’s diverse strengths to achieve a common goal – “building a prosperous Nigeria”.
Onanuga stated: “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.”
