Presidency Rebukes Ndume Over ‘Lopsided Appointments’ Allegation, Labels Claims Misleading and Hypocritical

The Presidency has firmly dismissed recent allegations by Senator Ali Ndume of lopsided federal appointments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling the claims misleading, hypocritical, and unfounded. In a strong rebuttal issued yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused the Borno South senator of ignoring facts in favor of political theatrics.

Onanuga, in a post shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, @aonanuga1956, criticized Ndume’s remarks made during a televised interview, where he alleged that President Tinubu was unduly favoring his own geo-political zone in key federal appointments.

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Allegations Rejected as Political Grandstanding

Describing Ndume’s comments as “selective perception,” Onanuga said the senator failed to disclose that two individuals from his own Borno South senatorial district were recently appointed to top positions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited by President Tinubu.

“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,” Onanuga wrote. “If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so ‘tribal,’ how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?” he queried.

The presidential aide accused Ndume of using populist rhetoric and engaging in divisive narratives that do not reflect reality. According to him, Ndume’s pattern of issuing “half-baked criticisms” is a disservice to constructive governance and national unity.

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At the heart of the pushback is the hypocrisy that Onanuga and other political figures believe underscores Ndume’s statements. Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to inclusive governance, and federal appointments have reflected merit, integrity, and national spread.

“President Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations,” he stated.

He further urged Ndume to elevate the tone of public discourse by steering clear of misinformation and unverified claims, emphasizing that such behavior falls short of what is expected from a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Karimi Adds Voice, Urges Ndume to Address Insecurity

Backing Onanuga’s position, Senator Sunday Karimi, Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, also criticized Ndume for his stance, urging him to redirect his energy toward more pressing issues such as national security. In a statement released from Lokoja, Karimi called Ndume’s comments a distraction from the real developmental needs facing the country.

Karimi expressed concern that a former Chief Whip of the Senate would focus on alleged regional bias in appointments while overlooking the prolonged insecurity plaguing the North East, particularly from Boko Haram insurgency.

According to Karimi, the country has spent over 50 percent of its recent annual revenues on counter-terrorism efforts, with thousands of lives lost and communities displaced due to the decade-long conflict.

“Rather than playing to the gallery and criticising the government, Senator Ndume, as a leader of his people, should go back home, liaise with his people on solving Boko Haram problems,” he advised.

Highlighting Local Efforts to Combat Insecurity

Karimi also used the opportunity to highlight his personal contributions to improving security in Kogi West. He noted that he had facilitated the construction of a military base in Egbe Town, Yagba West Local Government Area, and provided logistics support to security agencies combating banditry and kidnapping in the region.

He urged other lawmakers, including Ndume, to take a proactive approach to security issues in their constituencies rather than resorting to politically charged commentary that offers no solutions.

“Insecurity has a local solution,” Karimi noted, suggesting that the collaborative efforts of community leaders, lawmakers, and local governments could yield more sustainable security improvements than mere public criticisms.

The rift between Senator Ali Ndume and the Presidency underscores the growing tension over regional representation and governance strategy under the Tinubu administration. However, the swift and pointed rebuttal from presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, coupled with support from fellow lawmakers like Senator Karimi, signals that the government is unwilling to let criticisms it deems misleading go unchallenged.

As political discourse continues to heat up around appointments and national equity, it is clear that the administration intends to defend its actions on the basis of inclusion and merit, while urging lawmakers to focus on tangible contributions in their constituencies, especially in the ongoing fight against insecurity.