The Presidency has maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments will continue to be based on “merit, integrity, geographical spread, and demonstrable capacity to serve the Nigerian people,” insisting that they will not be based on Senator Ali Ndume’s “cherry-picked tribal arithmetic”.
Recall that Senator Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District of Borno State, accused President Tinubu of breaching the constitutional principle of federal character in his political appointments during an Arise TV programme.
Ndume raised concerns about the growing ethnic imbalance in the current administration, citing President Tinubu’s failure to adhere to Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
This section mandates the equitable distribution of government positions to reflect Nigeria’s diverse ethnic composition.
“The figures are there. I sent them to you,” Ndume said, referring to his statistical evidence of lopsided appointments by President Tinubu.
In response, the Presidency described Ndume’s accusation as reeking of “hypocrisy and selective perception”.
Faulting Ndume’s statistics, the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that Ndume failed to mention that two of his kinsmen held recent top appointments at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
According to the Presidency, the Chairman, appointed by President Tinubu, is from Ndume’s senatorial district. Onanuga questioned how two of Ndume’s kinsmen secured top roles at NNPC if Tinubu’s choices are indeed “tribal.”
Onanuga accused Senator Ndume of being “allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics,” stating that Ndume habitually fires half-baked criticisms often contradicted by facts. The Presidency claimed Ndume prioritises headline-chasing and stoking divisive narratives over constructive criticism.
“As a politician, Ndume has consistently proven himself allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics,” Onanuga said. “His habit of firing half-baked criticisms—often contradicted by facts—proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble-rousing, and stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism.”
The Presidency emphasised President Tinubu’s commitment to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or regional affiliations.
“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,” the Presidency stated.
“We urge Ndume to elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism, which is a disservice to the nation and unbecoming of a Nigerian Senator.”
