The Presidency has issued a sharp rebuke to Senator Ali Ndume over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s appointments, describing his remarks as “hypocritical” and “divisive.”
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused the Borno senator of “selective outrage” after he claimed on Arise TV that the administration’s appointments were lopsided.
Onanuga pointed out that Ndume failed to acknowledge that two prominent appointees at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited—including the Chairman—are from his own senatorial district.
“If President Tinubu’s appointments were truly biased, as the senator suggests, how then did his kinsmen secure top positions in such a critical institution?” the statement queried.
The Presidency further criticised Ndume for what it called a “habitual disregard for facts,” accusing him of prioritising “headline-chasing and rabble-rousing” over constructive engagement.
“President Tinubu remains committed to an inclusive government that reflects Nigeria’s diversity, with appointments based on merit, competence, and fair representation—not the divisive tribal arithmetic peddled by Senator Ndume,” the statement read.
It urged the lawmaker to “elevate public discourse” and refrain from “misleading claims that only serve to inflame tensions rather than foster unity.”
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