Presidency fires back at Ndume over allegations of lopsided appointments

The Presidency has dismissed recent claims by Senator Ali Ndume accusing President Bola Tinubu of lopsided appointments, describing the remarks as hypocritical, divisive, and lacking factual grounding.

In a strongly worded statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Tuesday, the Presidency cautioned Borno South Senator 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,” the statement read.

“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 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.

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“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 continued.

The Presidency concluded by reaffirming its commitment to inclusive governance, urging political leaders to uphold decorum and prioritize national interest over personal or ethnic grievances.