- ABUJA – Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has criticised some officials working within the presidency, accusing them of incompetence and saying their actions are damaging the image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ndume made the remarks during an interview on Wednesday, where he argued that the President needs to take firm action against officials whose conduct continues to create problems for the government.
Although he did not identify the officials by name, the senator said the presidency was being influenced by what he described as “kakistocrats” and warned that the situation would continue unless steps were taken to address it.
“My concern remains that the President has so many kakistocrats dominating the presidency. Unless he does something about it, they will continue to mess him up,” Ndume said.
Fake Government Agency, Suspended Permanent Secretary
The senator also referred to the discovery of a fake government agency that had been operating with an office, saying such an incident should not have happened if competent officials were properly supervising government operations.
According to him, an investigation by the ICPC uncovered further issues and resulted in the suspension of a permanent secretary in the presidency.
Ndume acknowledged the President’s decision to suspend the official but maintained that stronger action was needed to prevent similar incidents.
He argued that the presence of competent officials would have helped prevent the embarrassment and problems now associated with the administration.
Questions Presidential Campaign Council Composition
Ndume also raised concerns over the recently constituted APC Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election.
The lawmaker suggested that the controversy surrounding the composition of the council indicated that the President may not have been fully informed about some of the developments.
He said his concern was not simply about internal party matters but about the wider implications for Nigerian politics.
Subsidy Removal and Poor Government Communication
Speaking about the removal of the fuel subsidy, Ndume said he supported the policy, while acknowledging that it was one of the difficult decisions that had placed considerable pressure on Nigerians.
He said President Tinubu had shown a willingness to confront difficult issues and make decisions that previous administrations may have avoided.
However, the senator criticised the President’s media aides for what he described as poor communication of government policies.
According to him, government spokespersons often respond to criticism by attacking or insulting those who raise concerns instead of addressing the issues they present.
Ndume urged the APC to focus more on explaining government policies and decisions to Nigerians rather than engaging critics in verbal attacks.
He also called on opposition politicians to provide clear alternative policies instead of relying solely on political rhetoric.
Ndume Backs Obi on Subsidy Position
On the opposition’s positions regarding fuel subsidy, Ndume noted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had advocated returning the subsidy, while Peter Obi had opposed such a move.
The senator said he agreed with Obi, arguing that the main problem was not necessarily the subsidy itself but the manner in which the system had been managed.
Ndume maintained that corruption and mismanagement had allowed individuals he described as “kakistocrats and kleptocrats” to benefit from the system.
He said removing such individuals and allowing government institutions to function properly would ultimately benefit Nigerians.Category: Politics — Government
