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  • Board appointments: Ndume lauds Tinubu, makes case for South East

    Board appointments: Ndume lauds Tinubu, makes case for South East

    Former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over fresh appointments into Boards of key Federal  agencies.

    The new appointees unveiled at the weekend included the son of former Military President, Muhammad Babangida, who was named chairman of the revamped Bank of Agriculture.

    Others were Lydia Kalat Musa, chairperson  of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority; Jamilu Wada Aliyu, chairman of  the National Educational Research and Development Council; 

    Yahuza Ado Inuwa, as chairman of  the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and 

    Sanusi Musa (SAN) who was named chairman of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

    The list also included Professor Al-Mustapha Aliyu  as  Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa; Sanusi Garba Rikiji  as Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations and  Abdulmumini Aminu-Zaria as new  executive director of the Integrated Water Resources Management Commission.

    In the latest appointments, apart from Muhammad Babangida that is from Niger state in the North Central Region, Kano and Kaduna States had three and two appointees respectively.

    Sokoto and Zamfara from same North West region had a slot each while Oyo State produced Tomi Somefun as the managing director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Areas Development Commission.

    President Tinubu last May appointed 12 individuals from Northern states into significant positions in federal agencies.

    Ndume in a statement to newsmen in Abuja at the weekend commended Tinubu for taking necessary steps to calm frayed nerves in the Northern part of the country. 

    He said: “This appointments and the one he did last May when he gave 12 key agencies to competent individuals from the North were assuring enough. It goes to show that he is a responsive leader who listens to criticisms and surrender to genuine and legitimate agitation.

    “These two appointments will reassure the North,  particularly its elders that President Tinubu isn’t a leader that will deliberately promote an agenda to alienate the region that stood with him during the last general elections.”

    Ndume however appealed to Tinubu to consider the South East region in his next appointments of individuals to key federal agencies.

    He said: “The wrong narrative that the South East has been abandoned and would not count in patronage distribution should not be allowed to fester for long.

    “It is even a breach of the Federal Character Principle, as  enshrined in the 1999 Constitution to strip an entire region of adequate representation. This is a big mistep that must be corrected. Every part of the country deserves sense of belonging in a federation.

    “While I acknowledge Mr. President’s  steadfastness with this appointments, we are hopeful that subsequent nominations will reflect broader national inclusiveness, by accommodating more individuals from the South East.”

  • Ndume’s assault on facts and history

    Ndume’s assault on facts and history

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) has done all in his power to posture as a man of candour. Since winning election and representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza constituency in 2003 in the House of Representatives, he has not looked back, and has not been fettered by any electoral loss save the troubles his frankness and idealism have brought him. Brilliant (having graduated magna cum laude from the University of Toledo in Ohio United States), and fearless, (having fought many a political battle and suffered grave injuries), he has remained undaunted by opposition and by facts that sometimes unsettle his suppositions and conclusions. He must be doing many things right in his constituency to have won promotion to the senate in 2011 where he has remained ensconced despite his prejudices and fallibilities.

    On June 8, undeterred by the constant explosions of his myths and hyperboles, the gritty senator took on President Bola Tinubu on television by denouncing the endorsements the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received ahead of the 2027 presidential poll. To Sen. Ndume’s unhappiness, some 22 governors have so far endorsed the president for the poll. That’s nothing, fumed the senator, some 22 governors also endorsed ex-president Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 poll and still lost the election. As he snorted: “It happened before, not once, not twice. It happened during Jonathan’s presidency. That does not mean anything. Politicians are decamping, but the people who are the voters are not decamping. I don’t have access to Mr President, but I hope that he would look back historically and see that the gathering of people to endorse you does not mean anything. Jonathan had 22 governors then endorsing him, like was done now. And what happened? Jonathan lost woefully. And even that time, what happened? A lot of money was spent – over N2 billion or whatever. Even the election was shifted, but we are not learning our lessons. I pity Mr President for this kind of thing.”

    Read Also: Ndume denies Boko Haram attacked ex-COAS Buratai

    It may very well turn out that the endorsements may be overstated, but Sen. Ndume took too much liberty with facts by exaggerating Dr Jonathan’s endorsements. The former president did not have more than 16 governors endorsing him for the 2015 poll, not 22. Yes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled 22 states at the time, but some five of them had aligned their goals and destinies with the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly before the presidential election. Dr Jonathan’s camp was unfortunately depleted in 2015. However, this was not the first time the Borno senator would be engaging in flagrant distortions. In 2017, with his characteristic candour unsupported by any investigations whatsoever, he accused former senate president Bukola Saraki of getting enmeshed in a scandal involving the violation of Customs and Excise regulations, and Dino Melaye, another senator at the time, of brandishing a fake university certificate. He was to apologise days later, but not before he was suspended for six months for unjustifiably traducing his colleagues.

    Does Sen. Ndume learn from his many verbal and legislative mishaps? No. That would not be in his character. Not only does he make mistakes, many of them shocking and profound, he also doubles down on his errors and even sometimes tries to canonise them.

    He revelled in similar fallacies two Fridays ago when he gleefully spoke about Boko Haram attacks on former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai. He had said: “We are in a dire security situation. Just two days ago, Buratai was attacked at the front operations base in Borno. His team responded gallantly, but the insurgents managed to destroy several military assets. The situation in Borno is deteriorating rapidly. Insurgents now move freely, torching and stealing military equipment. It is becoming a full-blown crisis. All six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges to varying degrees. All six geopolitical zones are experiencing security challenges to varying degrees. Even in the South-South, we are grappling with economic sabotage like oil theft. At this point, the South-West appears to be the only relatively safe region.” But as soon as flak started to fly, he backed down and said he was misquoted. He insisted he spoke about an attack on Buratai town, not on the former army chief himself. He was of course more likely to have spoken about an attack on the army chief, instead of the town itself. But if he insists there was no such attack on the person of the former army chief, so be it. However, what made the story worthy of headlines in nearly all newspapers, thereby according it more oomph than it deserved, was the senator’s characteristic hyperbole. Reassuringly, it was obvious the army chief was uninterested in joining issues with him, perhaps recognising that it was the senator’s habit to cry and see wolf where none existed. But trust the senator to promote more hysteria.

    If he is as thoughtful as his office requires, and a little more reluctant to attack the government of the day, he will be less inclined to talking up a storm anytime he speaks, and even more admiringly providing depth and answers to the puzzles he raises with gusto. He referenced the instability and chaos in Nigeria’s five geopolitical zones, singling out the sixth, the Southwest, for praise. But he offered no clue why the sixth is rather safer and more developed than the rest. Might it be their secularism, their liberalism, their great historical conurbation, or anything nuanced and subliminal? Or does he think it is merely coincidental? Is he aware that the country’s common malaise is also beginning to erode the Southwest’s values? Sen. Ndume should kindly let his interventions be less acerbic and hyperbolic, capable of shedding more light on current social and political challenges, and explicating deep economic matters upon which he has sometimes imprecated ignorantly?

  • Senate awaits report of pilgrims’ burnt accommodation in Makkah, says Ndume

    Senate awaits report of pilgrims’ burnt accommodation in Makkah, says Ndume

    A delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Senator Ali Ndume, has visited the Nigerian pilgrims’ accommodation in Makkah recently affected by a fire incident.

    Speaking during the visit, Senator Ndume thanked Allah that no live was lost in the fire, which affected a building housing Nigerian pilgrims in the Shar Mansur area.

    “Alhamdulillah, there was no loss of life. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) responded promptly and relocated the affected pilgrims to a new accommodation. Although the full assessment of the incident is still ongoing, what matters most is that everyone is safe,” Senator Ndume said.

    He noted that the Committee, which is currently on an oversight mission in Saudi Arabia, felt it was important to physically assess the situation and show solidarity with the victims.

    Visit of the Senate representatives to the scene of the fire gutted accommodation to conduct their oversight function… alongside NAHCON Chairman CEO and PRSILS Commissioner and Saudi Liaison officer…

    “We had wanted to visit earlier, but considering the return of pilgrims from Mina, we felt it was better to wait a little. We will also meet the victims to sympathize with them. It is important, as Muslims, to show concern and offer support when such incidents happen,” he added.

    Read Also: First Lady distributes 10,000 professional kits to midwives, nurses in Southeast

    One of the affected pilgrims, Suleiman Ali Muhammad from Borno State, recounted the experience. “It was terrible and heartbreaking. We were in Mina when we got the information that our hotel was on fire. It was a distressing moment,” he said. “Thankfully, we later received photos and updates via social media and from our agents, which brought some relief.”

    He also praised NAHCON’s swift intervention, saying: “The Chairman of NAHCON personally addressed us and assured us that everything was under control. Within a short time, we were moved to another good accommodation. We truly appreciate their efforts.”

    NAHCON Chairman, Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, confirmed that the cause of the fire has not yet been officially communicated to the commission by the relevant Saudi authorities.

    “We thank Allah that at the time of the incident, most of the pilgrims were in Mina. Only two elderly women, who were unable to travel due to health issues, were in the building, and they were unharmed,” Professor Usman said.

    According to him, only six rooms were affected in the incident, with damage limited to a few personal belongings such as bags. When I heard the news, I rushed to the scene to assess the situation. Alhamdulillah, no lives were lost,” he said.

  • Ndume hails Tinubu’s appointment of Northerners into key agencies

    Ndume hails Tinubu’s appointment of Northerners into key agencies

    • Says President has addressed imbalance •Nnamani, Anyim, Shaibu, others get FG appointments

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) yesterday  commended President Bola Tinubu for entrusting Northerners with key positions in his administration.

    Ndume who had previously accused the President of making lopsided appointments said  the imbalance he had criticised in the past has now been addressed.

    “President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticisms,” he said in a statement in Abuja.

    He added: “I have known him to be a fair minded, cosmopolitan person. I could recall that our leaders in the North, including my humble self, who felt jolted over recent appointments into key federal positions, raised our voices, screaming against the perceived imbalances.

    “The hallmark of a good leader and statesman is to quickly adjust himself when he takes a decision or makes a policy pronouncement that a large section of the people finds unpopular and uncomfortable with.

    “President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has demonstrated several times that he is a responsive leader.”

    Nnamani, Anyim, Shema, Shaibu, 18 others get appointments into  federal agencies, commissions

    The President approved the appointment of 22 individuals into leadership positions across various federal agencies and commissions as part of the efforts to revitalise public institutions and deepen governance reforms.

    The appointees include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, and veteran labour leader Comrade Isa Aremu.

    Read Also: Ndume lauds Tinubu over ban on importation of foreign goods

    Nnamani from Enugu State was named Chairman of the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), former governor Shema is now  Chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), while Senator Anyim Pius Anyim  from  Ebonyi State was appointed Chairman of the National Merit Awards.

    They are all expected to bring strategic oversight and political depth to their new roles,according to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

    Philip Shaibu, former Deputy Governor of Edo State, was appointed Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Sport while Isa Aremu, a renowned labour activist from Kwara State, was appointed Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies.

    At the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), President Tinubu approved the appointment of Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani from Zamfara State as Managing Director.

    He is to work alongside Abubakar Umar Jarengol from Adamawa State, who was named Executive Director (Operation/Technical), and Babaranti Ayandayo Rasheed from Osun State as Executive Director (Finance and Administration).

    In the area of women and social development, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir from Borno State was appointed Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, while Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe from Ondo State was named Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Abuja.

    The President also appointed Dr. Segun Aina from Osun State as Director-General of the Academic Staff College of Nigeria, a key institution for academic development and retraining in the tertiary education sector.

    At the National Population Commission, Senator Jalo Zarami from Yobe State and Hon. Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu from Nasarawa State were appointed as Federal Commissioners, as part of efforts to strengthen national data systems and population planning.

    From Kano State, Hamza Ibrahim Baba was appointed National Program Manager of the Government Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Program (GEEP), a federal initiative supporting small businesses and informal sector enterprises.

    Abubakar Adamu from Benue State was named Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, while Mohammed Lawal Ibrahim of Kogi State and Abdullahi Mohammed of Katsina State were appointed Executive Directors (Finance/Admin) and (Monitoring and Implementation), respectively, at the Nigeria–Sao Tome Joint Development Authority.

    In another strategic appointment, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura from Zamfara State was named Director-General of the Centre for Citizenship and Leadership Training, an agency tasked with promoting leadership values and civic education.

    Senator Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya from Katsina was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Agricultural Land Development Authority, while Dr. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu from Kaduna State was appointed Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education.

    Professor Almustapha Alhaji Aliyu from Sokoto State, was appointed Managing Director of NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

  • Ndume lauds Tinubu over appointment of northerners into key federal agencies

    Ndume lauds Tinubu over appointment of northerners into key federal agencies

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the appointment of Nigerians from the three geo-political zones in the North into key federal government parastatals and agencies.

    About 12 individuals from the North were on Friday appointed into strategic national positions by President Tinubu.

    The list included Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC); Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP); Alhaji Abubakar Umar Jarengol (Adamawa)

    Executive Director, Operations – Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC); Barrister  Sama’ila Audu (Katsina), Executive Director, Administration – Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Professor Musa Garba Mai Tafsiri (Kebbi),  Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education; Comrade Isa Aremu, (Kwara) Director-General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), amongst others.

    Ndume, a former Senate Leader, in a statement on Saturday described the appointments as a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.

    Ndume had  expressed concerns over lopsidedness in the Tinubu’s administration’s appointments which he described as a clear violation of the Federal Character Principle, enshrined in the Constitution in April 

    Citing Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, he maintained that such imbalance and clear violation  of the Constitution, could deepen political discontent and fuel opposition coalitions against the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    But in his weekend statement, the former Chief Whip of the Senate said he was impressed by the action of the President which he noted has shown that he is a leader with listening ears.

    Ndume said: “President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticisms.

    “I have known him to be a fair minded,  cosmopolitan person. Yes, we are all bound to make mistakes. No one is infallible.

    “I could recall that our leaders in the North, including my humble self, who felt jolted over recent appointments into key Federal positions, raised our  voices, screaming against the perceived imbalances.

    “The hallmark of a good leader and Statesman is to quickly adjust himself when he takes a decision or makes a  policy pronouncement that a large section of the people finds unpopular and uncomfortable with.

    Read Also: Ndume lauds Tinubu over ban on importation of foreign goods

    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated several  times that he is a responsive leader.

    “This recent appointment of Northerners into key positions in Federal parastatals and agencies  was meant to address the imbalances thrown up by his previous appointments which left the North stranded.”

    Ndume, who declared  that he has nothing personal against Tinubu and his administration, restated  his conviction in the capacity of the President to meet the expectations of Nigerians in delivery of dividends of democracy.

    While congratulating the appointees, Senator Ndume urged them not to fail the nation by justifying  the confidence reposed in them which informed their individual nominations.

    He further assured President Tinubu of his loyalty to him at all times, not shirking in his duty as a lawmaker to point out perceived excesses of the Executive.

  • Ndume lauds Tinubu over ban on importation of foreign goods

    Ndume lauds Tinubu over ban on importation of foreign goods

    Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Tuesday commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ban on importation of foreign goods.

    Recall that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had on Monday, while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting, disclosed that the federal government has placed a ban on the importation of foreign goods.

    The federal government also placed a caveat on expatriates coming into Nigeria to execute jobs that local contractors and artisans can undertake, unless there is convincing justification for it, including express permission from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

    Idris, who described the decision as a landmark, said it was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s domestic economy and promoting local content.

    He also noted that it was in line with a sweeping new policy framework tagged the Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy.

    Ndume, in a statement, said the bold initiative by President Tinubu would go a long way in promoting indigenous entrepreneurs, boosting the local economy and generating employment for Nigerians.

    He said, “It is heartwarming to hear that President Tinubu has taken this bold decision to ban imported goods that can be produced locally.

    “This will be a major boost for indigenous businesses amid the slipping Nigerian economy.

    “If implemented faithfully, it will shield our local producers striving to find their feet from being choked out of existence by established foreign investors who flood our market, unhindered, with goods that are cheaper and even substandard.

    “With protection of local industries, there will be employment for our employable youths, the measure will also boost our Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) and the value of Naira will appreciate as their will be less strain on our foreign reserves, since the demand for foreign exchange by importers of such foreign goods would drastically reduce.”

    The lawmaker also suggested that the federal government to “also impose heavy taxes on some of the foreign goods to discourage Nigerians from buying them and pick locally produced items.”

  • APC Youth Network berates Ndume over comments on Tinubu’s appointments

    APC Youth Network berates Ndume over comments on Tinubu’s appointments

    The APC Youth Network Worldwide has slammed Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South over his recent comments on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing them as reckless, misleading, and unbecoming of a ranking lawmaker.

    In a statement released after a high-level strategy meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, the group expressed strong disapproval of Ndume’s claims that the Tinubu government was squandering borrowed funds on frivolities and violating the federal character principle in political appointments.

    Coordinator of the group, Abubakar Gidado, dismissed the senator’s assertions as not only baseless but also a deliberate attempt to weaken public trust in the Tinubu-led administration.

    “We find Senator Ndume’s comments unfortunate and disgraceful, especially coming from someone who has benefited immensely from the same APC government. His remarks do not reflect the reality of the budgeting framework and reforms introduced by this administration,” Gidado said.

    “President Tinubu’s budgeting process has been one of the most transparent and reform-driven systems Nigeria has seen in recent times. From cutting down on waste to prioritising capital projects and reducing recurrent expenditure, the administration has shown a deep commitment to fiscal prudence — something Ndume conveniently ignores in his emotional outbursts.”

    The group warned the senator to refrain from making blanket statements without facts, noting that his concerns on federal character lack substance when weighed against actual appointments.

    “The president has appointed Nigerians from all regions in strategic positions across federal ministries, agencies and parastatals. If Ndume is still stuck in the past, he should bring himself up to speed with recent developments and stop misleading the public with outdated figures,” Gidado added.

    Read Also: Presidency knocks Ndume over lopsided appointments claim

    The group further accused the Borno senator of seeking relevance through controversy.

    “Ndume should focus more on his legislative duties instead of grandstanding on television. We will not allow political actors to distort the hard work and vision of this administration just to satisfy personal egos or secure media headlines.”

    He urged President Tinubu to remain focused and ignore voices that seek to derail the government’s achievements with baseless accusations.

    “The youth wing of our party and millions of Nigerians at home and abroad continue to trust in the capacity of this government to deliver on its promises,” Gidado concluded.

  • Presidency knocks Ndume over lopsided appointments claim

    Presidency knocks Ndume over lopsided appointments claim

    Senator Ali Ndume’s allegation of lopsidedness in appointments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not only hypocritical but misleading, the Presidency said yesterday.

    Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, accused the Borno South senator of being “allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics.”

    Onanuga dismissed Ndume’s lopsidedness in appointment claim in a reaction posted yesterday via his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956.

    The presidential adviser got the backing of Senator Sunday Karimi, who urged his colleague to dissipate his energies on more important issues.

    Onanuga’s response came after Ndume accused President Tinubu of favouring certain regions in his recent appointments.

    During a chat on a cable television, Ndume alleged the appointments were skewed in favour of the President’s geo-political zone. He accused Tinubu of being unfair to other parts of the country.

    Read Also; Monarchs, murder and ethnic baiting

    But faulted the claim, Onanuga said: “Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst on the TV about the so-called ‘lopsided appointments’ by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception.

    “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”, Onanuga wrote on his X handle.

    He pointed out that the Chairman of NNPC Limited, who was appointed by President Tinubu, hails from Ndume’s own senatorial district in Borno State.

    “If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so ‘tribal,’ how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?” he queried.

    The presidential aide accused Ndume of repeatedly engaging in populist rhetoric without regard for verifiable facts.

    “His habit of firing half-baked criticisms—only to be contradicted by facts—proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble rousing, and stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism,” he added.

    Onanuga reaffirmed the President’s commitment to inclusive governance, saying Tinubu’s appointments are based on merit, integrity and national spread.

    “President Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations,” he said.

    He urged the senator to “elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism,” warning that such behaviour was “a disservice to the nation and the behaviour least expected from a Nigerian senator.”

    Karimi faults claims

    Karimi, who is the Chairman of Senate Services Committee, urged Ndume to focus more on pressing issues such as insecurity rather than “play to the gallery”.

    In a statement issued in Lokoja, Karimi expressed surprise at Ndume’s claims, advising him to focus on more pressing issues like the nation’s insecurity.

    Karimi expressed surprise that Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, often chose to “play to the gallery” by leaving “real developmental challenges like the insecurity confronting Nigeria, to promote sentiments.”

    The Kogi West senator cited the devastation caused to Nigeria’s existence by Boko Haram insurgency for over a decade as issues deserving genuine concerns.

    According to him, it cost the nation “over 50 per cent of its earnings” in recent years in counter-terrorism spending.

    Karimi urged Ndume to redirect his energy towards finding local solutions to insurgency, rather than criticizing the government.

    The statement reads: “Over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s earnings in the last few years is being spent on fighting insurgency.

    “Rather than playing to the gallery and criticising the government, Senator Ndume, as a leader of his people, should go back home, liaise with his people on solving Boko Haram problems.

    “Insecurity has a local solution,” Karimi noted, highlighting his efforts in combating banditry, kidnapping, and violent crimes in Kogi West.

    According to him, he facilitated the construction of a Military Base in Egbe Town, Yagba West Local Government and provided additional logistics to support security initiatives.

    Karimi stressed that the proactive approach demonstrated his commitment to addressing the region’s security challenges.

  • Presidency blasts Ndume over lopsided appointments claim

    Presidency blasts Ndume over lopsided appointments claim

    The Presidency has dismissed allegations of lopsided appointments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the claim by Senator Ali Ndume as hypocritical and misleading.

    In a reaction posted on Tuesday via his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Borno South senator is “allergic to facts and addicted to theatrics.”

    Onanuga’s response comes after Ndume accused President Tinubu of favouring certain regions in his recent appointments, sparking debates across political circles.

    “Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst on TV about so-called ‘lopsided appointments’ by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception.

    “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”, Onanuga wrote. 

    He pointed out that the Chairman of NNPC Limited, who was appointed by President Tinubu, hails from Ndume’s own senatorial district in Borno State. 

    “If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so ‘tribal,’ how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?” he queried.

    The presidential aide accused Ndume of repeatedly engaging in populist rhetoric without regard for verifiable facts. 

    “His habit of firing half-baked criticisms—only to be contradicted by facts—proves he’s more interested in headline-chasing, rabble rousing, and stoking divisive narratives than offering constructive criticism,” he added.

    Read Also: Damboa Attack: Ndume lauds Army’s resilience, offers support to victims

    Onanuga reaffirmed the President’s commitment to inclusive governance, saying Tinubu’s appointments are based on merit, integrity, and national spread. 

    “President Tinubu is deeply committed to fostering a government that embraces all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or regional affiliations,” he said.

    He urged the senator to “elevate public discourse and avoid misinformation and baseless criticism,” warning that such behaviour was “a disservice to the nation and the behaviour least expected from a Nigerian Senator.”

  • Damboa Attack: Ndume lauds Army’s resilience, offers support to victims

    Damboa Attack: Ndume lauds Army’s resilience, offers support to victims

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the recent Boko Haram attack in Sabon Gari village of Damboa Local Government Area on 4 January 2025. 

    This is even as he lauded the Nigerian Army for its resilience and pledged support for the victims. 

    Ndume spoke when he visited the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force, North East, ‘Operation Hadin KAI’ in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. 

    Recall that on Wednesday, the Defence Headquarters, through a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed that “following a large-scale attack by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Sabon Gari Community in Damboa LGA, Borno, joint air and ground forces neutralised over 34 terrorists during firefights; however, six (6) soldiers were killed in action during the encounter.” 

    Southern Borno, particularly areas like Mandara Mountain, Damboa, Biu’s Mandaga Garau, as well as parts of Ngulde and Ngwahi in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, has been grappling with persistent insecurity. 

    The challenges have prompted Senator Ndume, who represents the Southern Borno constituency, to intensify his engagements with military leaders to seek solutions. 

    The visit, according to Ndume, was aimed at assessing the efforts of the military in combating insurgency and at commending their dedication in protecting lives and property. 

    Senator Ndume prayed for God to grant a swift recovery to those who sustained various degrees of injury during the latest encounter with terrorists. 

    During the visit, Senator Ndume held a closed-door meeting with Major General Waidi Shuaibu, the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’. 

    The discussion may be connected with the recent security breaches, including the attacks on Kauji, Wajirko, and Sabon Gari in Damboa Local Government Area in his constituency. 

    Read Also: Ndume urges Borno youths to expose Boko Haram collaborators, embrace farming

    The Senator extended his sympathies to the Theatre Commander and the troops, acknowledging the complexities of the security situation and applauding their bravery in the face of adversity. 

    “I deeply appreciate the unwavering commitment and sacrifices of our officers and soldiers in ensuring the safety of our communities. 

    “Your resilience is commendable, and we will continue to stand by you,” Ndume said. 

    Following his military engagements, the Senator visited victims of the recent Boko Haram attack in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government. 

    During the visit, he interacted with the affected constituents, empathising with their plight and offering both moral and financial support to help them rebuild their lives.