The Presidency has strongly criticized Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South after he accused President Bola Tinubu of making lopsided appointments. Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, Ndume claimed that the President’s appointments do not align with the diversity mandated by Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which calls for federal character in government appointments.
The Borno senator described the appointments as a violation of the constitutional provision for federal character, implying that they were not inclusive of Nigeria’s ethnic and regional diversity.
However, the Presidency hit back in a response shared on Tuesday evening via the official X handle of Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. Onanuga dismissed Ndume’s comments as “hypocritical” and “selective perception,” accusing the Senator of distorting facts for political gain.
“The Senator’s criticism reeks of hypocrisy,” Onanuga said, pointing out that Ndume conveniently ignored key facts during his interview. He reminded the lawmaker that two of his kinsmen had been appointed to prominent roles at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited by President Tinubu. In fact, the Chairman of NNPC is from Ndume’s own senatorial district. Onanuga questioned how these appointments could be “tribal” if two individuals from Ndume’s region had secured top positions in the oil sector.
Onanuga further criticized Ndume’s approach to public discourse, accusing him of making baseless criticisms that are often later disproven by facts. “Ndume’s habit of firing half-baked criticisms that are contradicted by reality shows he’s more interested in headline-chasing than in offering constructive feedback,” he stated.
The Presidential aide reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s appointments are based on merit, integrity, and the geographical spread of leadership roles, emphasizing that these decisions are made with the goal of inclusive governance. “The President’s appointments are—and will continue to be, guided by merit, geographical balance, and the capacity to serve the Nigerian people,” Onanuga asserted, rejecting Ndume’s narrow view based on tribal divisions.
In closing, Onanuga urged Ndume to elevate the level of public discourse and stop spreading misinformation through baseless criticism.
