Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, has raised serious allegations that some senior officials within President Bola Tinubu’s administration are demanding bribes from individuals seeking access to the President.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Ndume lamented that even top government officials and lawmakers now struggle to meet with President Tinubu without passing through intermediaries who allegedly charge fees to arrange appointments.
The former Senate Chief Whip described the situation as “deeply troubling” and warned that such practices could alienate the President from key stakeholders while eroding public trust in government institutions.
“I don’t have a chance to see the President. The only time I can see him is when he’s going to an event,” Ndume said. “This is how they run the government. I’m telling you, they don’t have people there. The government is dominated by kakistocrats. If you want to see the President, they will ask you how much.”
The senator used the term kakistocrats—meaning a government run by the least qualified or most corrupt—to describe those surrounding President Tinubu.
Ndume added that his attempts to meet with the President through official channels had been frustrated by what he called “bureaucratic bottlenecks” created by aides.
“I wrote to them that I wanted to see the President to discuss some financial issues, but they were playing games as if they want you to go to heaven,” he said.
The lawmaker’s remarks have reignited discussions about the alleged “Aso Rock cabal”—a term often used to describe powerful insiders who influence presidential decisions and control access to Nigeria’s leaders.
Such claims have persisted across administrations—from Olusegun Obasanjo’s political godfathers, to Yar’Adua’s ‘Katsina Mafia’, Jonathan’s oil-linked allies, and Buhari’s inner circle led by Abba Kyari and Mamman Daura.
Under President Tinubu, new allegations of aides demanding bribes for access have fueled concerns that another cabal may be forming within Aso Rock, perpetuating a long-standing tradition of hidden power and influence in Nigeria’s highest seat of authority.
