The Presidency has cautioned Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, over what it described as his repeated reckless and unsubstantiated statements during television appearances.
The warning was issued by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, in reaction to recent comments by Senator Ndume alleging that a cabal had hijacked the Tinubu administration and that the government is dominated by “kleptocrats and kakistocrats.”
Onanuga, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, criticised Ndume’s remarks as lacking substance and described them as baseless.
“Ndume is entitled to his opinion, as a lone-wolf opposition within the APC, though he most often gets his facts wrong or builds his thesis on a specious, faulty foundation,” he said.
He also accused Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, of previously spreading false claims, including an unverified allegation that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), was ambushed by terrorists.
“A ranking Senator making reckless statements on TV cannot command the respect of any right-thinking person,” Onanuga added.
Reacting further, the presidential aide questioned the senator’s use of the term “kakistocrats,” challenging whether he understood the meaning of the word or was merely using it for sensationalism.
“This President has many competent aides, many of whom were accomplished professionals before coming into government, and they are doing a commendable job reengineering the economy for long-term stability,” he said.
The Presidency reiterated its commitment to transparency and professionalism in governance, while urging public officials to exercise caution and responsibility in their public statements.
Senator Ndume had recently made a series of critical comments regarding appointments and governance style under the Tinubu administration, which have continued to generate reactions from party stakeholders and the public.
