The Presidency has dismissed Senator Ali Ndume’s allegations that President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments are “lopsided,” asserting they are based on merit and national balance.
Senator Ndume, representing Borno South, claimed on Arise TV that Tinubu’s appointments violated the constitutional mandate for federal character.
In a sharp rebuttal, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, labeled Ndume’s criticism as “hypocritical” and a “selective perception,” accusing the senator of prioritizing political theatrics over factual accuracy.
Onanuga highlighted that Ndume failed to disclose that two individuals from his own senatorial district were recently appointed to key positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
“Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst…reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception,” Onanuga stated via X, formerly Twitter. “While he 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 accused Ndume of “headline-chasing” and “rabble-rousing,” alleging a pattern of unfounded criticisms contradicted by facts.
“His habit of firing half-baked criticisms—only to be contradicted by facts—proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble rousing, stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, emphasizing that appointments are driven by merit, integrity, and geographical spread, not “cherry-picked tribal arithmetic.”
Onanuga urged Ndume to “elevate public discourse” and refrain from “misinformation and baseless criticism.”
Tinubu’s Appointments Merit-Based, Presidency Counters Ndume’s ‘Lopsided’ Claim
