Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has warned that President Bola Tinubu’s political appointments, which he claims violate the federal character principle, could have long-term consequences if not addressed.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Arise TV, Ndume stated that while the president has the prerogative to appoint individuals to key positions, those appointments must reflect national diversity, as mandated by the Nigerian Constitution.
“The Constitution is very clear when you look at it vis-Ã -vis the appointments made so far. These are political appointments, and Section 143 clearly states that political appointments should reflect the federal character. That is not the case here,”; he said.
Ndume explained that while professional appointments, such as those of the Chief of Army Staff or the Inspector General of Police, require specific expertise, political appointments should be more inclusive to promote national unity.
“You can’t appoint someone who is not a soldier as Chief of Army Staff or someone who is not a police officer as the IGP. But for political appointments, the Constitution insists on fairness, and that’s being violated,”; he added.
The senator warned that if Tinubu does not address the imbalance, it could have political repercussions for his administration.
“These things can boomerang at a certain period of time if they are not corrected,”; Ndume cautioned.
“All I’m doing is drawing the president’s attention to these infractions.”;
He dismissed claims that his criticism was driven by personal interest, insisting that his role as a lawmaker requires him to speak against irregularities.
“As a Nigerian, I have the right to voice this out. In fact, that’s why I’m in the National Assembly to provide oversight on the president’s actions. This is not personal,”; he said.
Ndume also noted that rather than addressing the substance of his concerns, some individuals within the administration were more focused on attacking him.
“Tinubu’s attack dogs will attack me and not the message,”; he remarked.
The senator emphasized that public office holders must be accountable, not only to Nigerians but also to God.
“At the end of it all, each one of us will stand before God and account for what we were responsible for. That’s why I’m saying this,”; he concluded.
