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Obasanjo To Alibaba: “President Must Appoint CJN, Heads Of Police, CBN, NNPC, Customs To Get Re-elected”

April 9, 2025

By Charles Igbo

“Let your people decamp to other Political Parties. Plant your own people to destabilise them.”

Consummate Comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popular as Alibaba, has made public some startling tips given to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for one not only to be President but to be re-elected.

Alibaba said Obasanjo, allegedly, gave him the tips when the former President thought he, Alibaba, was thinking of becoming a politician.

If the tips are anything to go by, President Bola Tinubu need not get worried over his re-election in 2027. His second term is already in his bag. He has already been elected. He has already taken care of all the tips, and more.

According to Alibaba, Obasanjo told him in a discussion that a President must do the following to be re-elected. They are:

Appoint the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Appoint the Central Bank Governor.
Appoint the Inspector General of Police.
Appoint the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC.
Appoint the Comptroller General of Customs & Excise.
Be in charge of INEC
Award 10 contracts in your first year in office.
Have in your bag the Governors of Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Kano, Kaduna.
Control 44 of the most popular Senatorial Districts.
Plant people to destabilise the opposition Parties.

Alibaba made all these claims as coming from Obasanjo in an interview on “Outside Box.”

The question since then is: Did Obasanjo say all these to Alibaba or is Alibaba dishing out his usual comedy, was he at his best in his trade? But opinion is that the humour merchant would not dare says things as explosive as those and claim they were tips from the former President.

Alibaba: “I was speaking with Obasanjo one time, and he listed some things that are necessary in politics.

“He thought I was going into politics, so he was happy I was talking to him about politics. He said ‘Ali, I’m happy you are catching up with politics, but you still have a lot to learn about how Governors and Presidents are selected’.

“He said ‘you need seven Governors to win an election. Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Kano, Kaduna and the CBN governor’.

Then I said ‘Kano and Kaduna don’t have money,’ he said ‘that is for the numbers.’

“You need 44 of the most popular senatorial districts.

“You need to have awarded 10 contracts and 15% of that contract can give you a marginal impact at the polls. And you must award this contract in your first year of assumption of office.

“If you don’t do that, then, you can’t ask the people for anything because when you give them at the first year of your getting into office, when it’s time for elections you just tell them ‘Do you want to continue this contract or not’?

“Obasanjo emphasised the importance of making strategic appointments, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Comptroler General of Customs, Head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Inspector General of Police (IGP), and CBN Governor.

“Obasanjo advised on steering clear of corrupt governors who are ‘loaded’ and can be ‘financially useful when needed’.

“He said you must name your CJN, IGP, Comptroller General of Customs, Head of the NNPC, CBN governor, and you must suspend pending cases of corrupt past Governors who are loaded.

“Don’t forget that those guys have war chests that they are just sitting and waiting for who they want to align with. No matter how much EFCC milks from them, they still have plenty.

“These are people who were sitting on a monthly Federal Allocation. Don’t forget that some States when they get their Federal Allocation, they don’t touch it.

“They actually add to it because their States’ Internally Generated Revenue is higher than what the Federal Government gives to them.

“So if the Federal Government gives them N3, they can add N4 to it and spend N7. When they leave office, EFCC can’t come looking for them because they added money to what the Federal Government gave them, but you see that Internally Generated Revenue that is their sweat as it is called, it is their money, they generated it themselves. They can determine what they want to do with it.

“He also advised infiltrating opposition parties and strategically influencing delegates by offering incentives to ensure loyalty during elections.

“This is the meaty part of it. He says: ‘Get US or China’s support because of their businesses in your country, they would support.

“Get National Association of Nigerian Students, market women, National Union of Road Transport Workers. Unsettle the organized labour. Get 10 of the richest Nigerians on your side. Infiltrate your opposition party and let them decamp for elections.

“So let me explain. You have your Party and I want to infiltrate the party. I will send my people to leave my own party and join your own party before the elections. So when the time of election comes, they will then disrupt the whole thing.

“They will probably be the ones they will put in charge of electioneering campaign and you won’t know that the reason they decamped was to make sure that your own campaign doesn’t succeed. So when you are planning, they inform their original party.

“Obasanjo continued saying infiltrate the opposition party, but delegates one year before your congress.

“So I asked how do you buy delegates then he said ‘you know who and who that would be selected as delegates, give two of his daughters job in the bank, give another’s wife a shop, sponsor another’s trip to Hajj so when the time for election comes and you say this is the person I’m supporting, they won’t mess up because of what you have done.

“While some people are trying to raise money to give dollars, you already have bought their loyalty since. Have a hand in appointing all parties’ Chairmen.

“Secure INEC and State REC, blogs, Social Media, Religious Leaders, Royal Fathers, appointment of Board of Chairman and DGs. Get four Constitutional Lawyers on retainership.”

Ondo Gov. Sacks Board Of Ondo Football Agency, Sets Up Caretaker Committee

Ayodele Oni

April 9, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dissolved the board of the State Football Agency (ODSFA).

The dissolution is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan.

ODSFA is the supervising agency of Sunshine Stars and Sunshine Queens. Sunshine Stars are currently 19th on the Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) log with 35 points

According to the statement, the dissolution, brings an end to the tenure of the Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr Bamidele Ologunloluwa, and other members.

It directed them to hand over all government property in their care to the accounting officer of the agency.

The governor also approved a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of Sunshine Stars Football Club, under the leadership of Tokunbo Akinyelure as Team Manager and Welfare Officer.

Others members of the caretaker committee are; Morris Kwaghzever, Special Duties; Abdul Wahab as Kits Manager, Elias Michael as Masseur, and Adetula Olumide as Physiotherapist.

Also Ayodeji Abe is Camp Commandant, Ademola Ayodeji, Assistant Kits Manager 1; Oria Sola, Asst Kits Manager 2; Imisi Ayodele as Curator and Isaac Afolabi, Media Officer.

“The caretaker committee is to report directly to the Office of the State Governor. Governor Aiyedatiwa charged members of the caretaker team to work towards turning around the fortunes of the Sunshine Stars Football Club.”

How Tinubu Borrowed $9bn In 2yrs, Nothing To Show; What Presidency Doesn’t Want Nigerians To Know

James Orji

April 9, 2025

On August 8, 2023 four months after his ascension to the Nigerian Presidency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised not to rely heavily on loans to run the affairs of the country.

President Tinubu, spoke while inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He expressed his resolute commitment to break the vicious cycle of over-reliance on borrowing for public spending, and the resulting burden of debt servicing, which he said strained Nigeria’s meagre resources and hampered development, adding that the government concentrate more on generating tax for its expenses.

“Our aim is to transform the tax system to support sustainable development while achieving a minimum of 18% tax-to-GDP ratio within the next three years.

”Without revenue, government cannot provide adequate social services to the people it is entrusted to serve,” he said.

Four months earlier on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration as the country’s commander-in-chief Tinubu had ended the humungous subsidy on petroleum as one of his government’s strategy to free up resources for the government.

‘Fuel subsidy is gone’ President Tinubu said in his now famous speech on his inauguration, raising hopes among not a few Nigerians that his administration will no longer pay billion of dollars to petroleum marketers, rather, the saved funds from subsidy will now be used run the affairs of the country, thereby reducing the country’s huge debt problems.

Senator Ndume — Ndume: Tinubu Borrowed $9bn Without Nothing To Show

That assertion has proven to be wrong as the country is now fully back to borrowing from creditors such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, IMF, among others, according to Senator Ali Ndume, a strong critic of the president, who said the administration has borrowed a whopping $9 billion within two years in office without anything to show for it. The Senator spoke on a television programme.

The $9 billion loans have worsened Nigeria’s total foreign debt which stood at $42 billion as at December 2023, seven months after President Tinubu came to office, but has risen to close to $46 billion by December 2024, according to the Debt Management Office, DMO.

Finance experts informed the magazine that the country’s total foreign debt stocks is currently above $50 billion, and may rise further as the administration expands its appetite for foreign loans.

In spite of the apprehension over the rising debt, the administration has continued to grandstands, saying, for instance, that the debt is still within acceptable thresh-hold, as it has not exceeded the required Debt-to Gross Domestic Product, GDP percentage, which stood at close to 60 percent as at December 2024 . According to the DMO, the Debt to GDP stood at 55 percent by June last year, but has since increased, according to analysts.

According to Ndume, borrowing is not totally wrong as rich countries such as the United States, US, China, Japan borrowed from time to time, but “they borrow for physical, tangible and countable projects that you spread and pay over time. But my worry- in the case of Nigeria (is not even in the borrowing), it’s what you borrow for,” he said, which the administration cannot account for.

The senator, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, who was relieved of that position last following his trenchant outburst against the president style of administration, explained how Tinubu borrowed $9 billion within two years in office.

He said, “You see, in June, 2023, $500million was borrowed for women programme to scale up MPWPS. Can you see that? Can Nigerians see it? Where are the women?

“Then, on June 23rd, the same day, $800million was borrowed to cushion the impact of high petrol prices after fuel subsidy removal. How? Where? Then on September 23rd, 2023 under the same government, $700million was borrowed again for Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment.

“Then in December, 23rd $750million was borrowed through what they called Renewable Energy Scale-up. On June 24, 2024, $1.5billion was borrowed to support Nigerian Reform for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation. Then on June 24th, $750million was borrowed for Immediate Financial and Technical Support for Efforts to Stabilise the Economy and to Scale-up Support for the Poor and Most Economically.”

Like Senator Ndume, not a few Nigerians are worried that they cannot see the impact of the humungous loans in their lives

LASTMA Reads Riot Act, Threatens To Prosecute Motorists Who Eat, Drink, Smoke While Driving

Akinwale Kasali

April 9, 2025

By Akinwale Kasali

Motorists who eat, drink and smoke while driving now risk jail terms the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has warned.

The State Traffic Authority declared a zero-tolerance policy against motorists who do the aforementioned while driving. LATSMA warned that offenders would face prosecution and possible jail terms.

LASTMA made the announcement on its official X handle (former Twitter) on Wednesday, stating: “Smoking, drinking, and eating while driving is an offence under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018.

It would be recalled that LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed concern over the rising number of road accidents and the resulting avoidable loss of lives in the state.

Senate Leader, Bamidele Promises To Build Structure For Children Therapy Centre In Ekiti

Ayodele Oni

April 9, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

In continuation of his Empowerment programme for people of his constituency, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has donated two mini-buses, two motorcycles, and 25 wheelchairs to the Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities in Ado Ekiti.

Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor, Yinka Oyebode, who disclosed this in a statement, stated that the Senate Leader’s gesture was in support of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s significant investment in the welfare of children with disabilities in the state.

Oyebode, who stated that Bamidele made the donation during a visit to the Therapy Centre alongside the governor, said that the items were received by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola.

Bamidele praised Oyebanji for his commitment to the welfare of children with disabilities, noting that “this therapy centre is the first state-owned facility of its kind in the country” as he promised to facilitate a bigger one for them next year.

The senator said, “Let me begin by thanking our governor for bringing me here to see what’s happening. I also want to thank the state government for conceptualizing this initiative.

“I extend my gratitude to the workers, the volunteer parents, the professionals and all the interveners here. I am glad to be here and I believe we need to attract all the encouragement we can from the Federal Government.

“The governor has made a specific request. I always describe our relationship as a partnership that is working for the people of our state. By the grace of God, I will prioritize this as my number one constituency project for 2026.

“From my budget of N1.5bn for construction, I will take it on, and by God’s grace, we will commence work here next year. In the meantime, let us see how we can maintain the current facilities and explore corporate social responsibility interventions until the new building is ready.”

Oyebanji had earlier urged the federal lawmaker to facilitate the construction of a bigger structure that could accommodate all the children simultaneously, allowing them to attend the Centre daily

The governor had said, “Distinguished Senator, the reason I brought you here is that we currently have 70 children, but due to a lack of space, we must attend to them in batches.

“Premium Trust Bank has renovated this facility for us, and with our limited resources, we have been able to keep it operating. I brought you here to see the need for a bigger structure that can accommodate more children at once.”

In her remarks, the SA on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Agboola, said that “the Centre served children with cerebral palsy, autism, and other disabilities, particularly those who could not fit into traditional schools due to the severity of their conditions”.

Agboola commended the governor for providing a facility where children requiring physical, occupational, and speech therapy could receive assistance until they were capable of returning to school.

FEC Approves Continuation Of Naira For Crude Agreement With Local Refiners

Ayodele Oni

April 9, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

To further reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign exchange for petroleum, the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) has officially directed the full implementation of the suspended Naira-for-Crude agreement with local refiners

The Ministry of finance disclosed this on its official X handle titled “Update on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira Initiative,” on Wednesday.

Recall that the first phase of the six-month deal involving the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and Dangote Petroleum Refinery ended March 31, 2025.

It has not been renewed and the Dangote refinery has since stopped selling refined petroleum products in naira due to the non-renewal of the naira-for-crude deal.

The has led to upward review of petrol which hitherto sold between N800 and N900 early this year.

In a new update on Wednesday, the committee said the policy is not temporary but a long-term plan to cut Nigeria’s dependence on foreign exchange for petroleum.

This came after a key meeting on Tuesday to review progress and tackle ongoing issues.

It added that initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security.

The statement read, “The Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative convened an update meeting on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council.

“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”

PDP Governors Approach Supreme Court Over State Of Emergency Rule In Rivers State

Akinwale Kasali

April 9, 2025

By Akinwale Kasali

The 11 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors have approached the Apex Court, the Supreme Court challenging what powers President Bola Tinubu has to suspend a democratically elected structure of a State.

The suit filed by the Governors also challenges the declaration of a State of Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

The Suit was filed before the Apex Court on Tuesday.

The move by the PDP Governors was confirmed by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande.

It would be recalled that on March 18th, 2025, President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the State Deputy Governor, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Following the suspension, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the State pending the period of the suspension.

The Governors, in the suit marked: SC/CV/329/2025, predicated the summons on eight grounds.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa States.

The plaintiffs urged the Supreme Court to determine if the President had the power to suspend a democratically elected structure of a State.

They also asked the apex court to determine if the way and manner the President pronounced the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State was not in contravention of the 1999 Constitution.

Amongst others, all 11 governors in the suit, filed through their State Attorney Generals, prayed the Court to determine the following: “Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend, or in any manner whatsoever, interfere with the offices of a Governor and the Deputy Governor of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria and replace same with his own unelected nominee as a Sole Administrator, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of the State of the Federation, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States?

“Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 4(6), 11(4) & (5), 90, 105 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend the House of Assembly of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of such States, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States?

“Whether the consequent threat by the first Defendant acting on behalf of the President to the States of the Federation, including the Plaintiffs’ States, to the effect that the offices of the Governor and Deputy Governor of the States can be suspended by the President by virtue of a Proclamation of a State of Emergency, is not in contravention of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 4(6), 5(2), 11(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and inconsistent with the principles of constitutional federalism?

The respondents in the suit are to within 14 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of such service, cause an appearance to be entered for them.

The suit filed by the opposition Governors ends weeks of speculation of what action they would take following reports that they had earlier approached the apex court to challenge the President’s action.

Before Tuesday, seven PDP Governors, specifically from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau and Zamfara states reportedly decided to challenge the President’s action by filing a suit before the Supreme Court.

Brutalization Of Journalists: NUJ Issues 14-Day Ultimatum To Rivers Police Command

Suleiman Anyalewechi

April 9, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State Chapter, has decried the unfortunate situation whereby an institution like the Police, constitutionally charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties, has suddenly converted itself into an instrument of oppression and suppression.

The NUJ’s lamentation is coming on the heels of the molestation and physical assaults of some journalists in Rivers state during last Monday’s nationwide protest march against the state of emergency imposed on the State, and other perceived acts of misgovernance by the “Take-It-Back Movement.”

Arising from what it described as unwarranted, unprovoked, barbaric and inhuman treatment of journalists covering the protest in the State, the NUJ on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, gave the Rivers State Police Command 14 days ultimatum to apologize, or face the wrath of its members.

The Source reports that the Police, during the protest on Monday in the State, applied a high-handed approach resulting in the brutalization and indiscriminate tear gasing of many people, including journalists covering the event.

The Police, in the face of the State of Emergency in the State, forcefully dispersed the protesters who had gathered at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt by 9.00 am.

Even when the protesters left the park in deference to Police warnings, Security Operatives still trailed them to the streets, shooting several canisters of tear gas, and severely beat up a number of people.

In a statement jointly issued by Comrade Paul Bazia and Dr Ijeoma Tubosia, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Rivers State NUJ Council strongly condemned the repressive actions of the Police during the protest.

“The NUJ, as a watchdog of the society, will not sit idly-by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism, and brutality.

“Enough is enough. Any further attacks on working journalists in the State would be vehemently resisted”, the Union warned .

According to the NUJ, the despicable action of the Police, tantamount to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.

The Union particularly decried the barbaric assault on five of its members namely–Charles Opurum of Channels Television, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info ,Ikezam Godswill of AIT and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.

The Union alleged that the journalists were tear gased, severely beaten and detained by Security Operatives while performing their legitimate duties during the Monday protest.

The NUJ warned that its members will black out the activities of Police and other Security Agencies in Rivers State should they fail to tender an unreserved apology to the Union within the next two weeks.

While suing for calm among members, the Union, however, expressed its unwavering commitment towards constructive engagement and partnership with the Police and others in the overall interest of peace and national development .

This is just as it cautioned the police not to take for granted the existing cordial working relationship between it and the Media in the State.

Redevelopment Of Ondo GRA: Organized Labour Insists No worker Should Be Evicted

Ayodele Oni

April 9, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Organized Labour in Ondo State has insisted that explanation by the State government to defend the eviction of civil servants from Alagbaka Government Reserved Area, (GRA) was untenable.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) challenged the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Ayorinde Olawoye, to publish verifiable evidence to support allegations.

The State Government had stated that the GRA, in Akure which harbours substantial number of civil servants would be redeveloped to reflect the status of the state.

Government claimed that houses at the GRA built close to 40 years ago are now dilapidated while those who were allocated the houses had reallocated them to another people.

The Labour Union in a statement also clarified that civil servants in the state didn’t sublet government quarters at exorbitant rates, describing the claim as a “cheap lie”.

The statement was signed by Olapade Ademola Adeniji, NLC Chairman; Fatuase Clement Chairman, TUC Chairman, Segun Ajiböye Chairman Joint Negotiation council (JNC).

The statement reads, “The attention of the Organised Labour in Ondo State, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), has been drawn to a public statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr. Ayorinde Abiola Olawoye, concerning the proposed redevelopment of the Alagbaka Government Staff Quarters, Akure.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the self-congratulatory rhetoric and anti-worker posturing laced throughout the said release.

“However, in the face of deliberate misinformation, half-truths, and the thinly veiled insults against hardworking civil servants, silence would be betrayal.

“We wish to state in very clear terms that the claim that civil servants have “sublet” government quarters at “exorbitant rates” is not only a cheap lie, but a calculated attempt to paint workers as profiteers in order to justify the eviction plan.

“The Alagbaka Staff Quarters have served as a critical buffer against the housing deficit in Akure for decades.

“Displacing workers from their homes without any clear resettlement or Compensation plan is cruel, anti-labour, and completely unacceptable.

“We take particular exception to the condescending assertion by Engr. Olawoye that “less than one percent” of the state workforce resides in the quarters.

“Since when dịd the number of people affected determine the worth of their dignity? Even if it were just one family, the government has a responsibility to treat its workers with empathy and not as disposable statistics.

“Let it also be known that the so-called engagement with Labour was superficial as there was no briefings whatsoever.

“Organised Labour is not against development. We welcome genuine urban renewal efforts that follow due process and uphold human dignity.

“We call on His Excellency, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to listen to the voice of reason and direct an immediate halt to all plans that will force civil servants into the streets.

“No government should derive satisfaction from turning its workforce into victims of eviction. The Organised Labour stands firmly with every affected worker and their families.

“We will resist all forms of oppression, humiliation, and disregard for the welfare of workers under any quise. Let it be known that an attack on one worker is an attack on all.”

Fed. Appointments: Tinubu Knocks Ndume, Calls Him Hypocrite; Your Kinsmen Appointed To NNPC

James Orji

April 9, 2025

President Tinubu has reacted to the allegation by Senator Ali Ndume that his appointment has favoured a section of the country since he came to power two yeara ago.

Senator Ndume, represnting Borno South in the Nigerian Senate is one of the ardent critics of the president, even though he claimed to be among those closest to Tinubu from the northern part of the country.

The senate had on Monday while speaing on a Channel Television programme renewed his attack on Tinubu, calling him out for appointing more persons from the south west into his government.

The president is from the south west Nigeria.

He called on the president to be more nationalistic in his appointment, saying he should see the whole of the country as his constituency.

But in a statement Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy denied the allegation, the president he explained, has been fair to all the regions in his appointments, saying for instance, that Tinubu recently appointed two of Ndume’s ‘kinsmen’ into the board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited.

The presidential spokesman urged the senator to always put the interest of the country first rather than grandstanding and chasing crowd in his quest to criticise the president, noting that Tinubu’s appointments have been bereft of lopsidedness.

Below, Onanuga’s statement titled ‘A response to Ali Ndume’.

“While the Borno senator 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. The Chairman, appointed by President Tinubu, is from Ndume’s senatorial district. If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so “tribal,” how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?

“As a politician, Ndume has proven time and time again that he is allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics. 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.

“President Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations. He aims to harness our nation’s diverse strengths to achieve a common goal: building a prosperous Nigeria. The President’s appointments are—and will continue to be—based on merit, integrity, geographical spread and a demonstrable capacity to serve the Nigerian people, not Ndume’s cherry-picked tribal arithmetic.

“We urge Ndume to elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism. This is a disservice to the nation and the behaviour least expected from a Nigerian Senator.”

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