The Presidency has issued a stern rebuke to Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, over what it described as his “reckless” and “unguarded” statements made during a recent television appearance.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency condemned Ndume’s claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been hijacked by a cabal of kleptocrats and kakistocrats, dismissing the allegations as baseless and lacking any credible evidence.
“Senator Ndume is entitled to his opinion, even if it makes him appear as a lone-wolf opposition within the APC,” Onanuga said. “But he often builds his claims on faulty logic and inaccuracies—like when he falsely alleged that General Buratai was ambushed by terrorists.”
Onanuga emphasized that such sweeping allegations from a ranking senator without substantiating evidence do not enhance his credibility.
“A public figure of his standing making such reckless statements on national television cannot command the respect of any right-thinking person,” he added. “His use of the word ‘kakistocrats’ begs the question—does he even understand its meaning, or is he merely grandstanding?”
Defending President Tinubu’s leadership, Onanuga noted that the administration is filled with competent and accomplished professionals who are working diligently to reengineer the nation’s economy.
“Their efforts are already yielding positive results,” he said. “Foreign Direct Investment is rising, the stock market is booming, and companies are declaring record profits. Our foreign reserves are now six times more than what the President inherited. Revenue generation has soared, and states are receiving increased allocations.”
The Presidency also rejected claims that President Tinubu is disconnected from the populace, highlighting his consistent empathy and commitment to easing economic challenges.
“He fully understands the people’s pain and has assured that the current hardships, especially the high cost of food and medicine, are being addressed. Social investment programs are also being scaled up to support the vulnerable,” the statement added.
The rebuttal comes amid a wave of political commentary and internal party criticism, with Ndume recently repeating claims that the government has been overtaken by self-serving interests. However, the Presidency maintains that such rhetoric only distracts from the genuine progress being made.
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