Members of the All Progressives Congress Youth Network have accused Senator Ali Ndume of seeking relevance through controversy.

The allegations made against the lawmaker by the youth network follow Ndume’s recent claim that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments since assuming office are lopsided.

The lawmaker had also accused the president of only appointing his allies and individuals from his home region – the Southwest – to his cabinet and key agencies.

However, in reaction to Ndume’s allegation against the president, the APC youths described the lawmaker’s claim as reckless, misleading, and unbecoming of a high-ranking member of the society.

A statement by the group on Friday, April 11, said the youths are deeply disappointed by the allegations against the Tinubu’s administration.

Abubakar Gidado, the coordinator of the group said the additional claim that the Tinubu administration was spending borrowed funds on frivolities and flouting the constitutional provision on federal character in political appointments is misleading.

“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 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stuck in the past, he should bring himself up to speed with recent developments and stop misleading the public with outdated figures,” Gidado said.

He further urged Tinubu to remain focused and ignore the voices of individuals or groups that only seek to derail the government’s achievements with baseless and misleading claims.

Nasir el-Rufai, the ex-governor of Kaduna, says the visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna state, was not political.

On Friday, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation of some politicians to visit Buhari in Kaduna. 

Among those who accompanied Atiku on the visit were el-Rufai; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; Isa Pantami, former minister of communications; Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo; Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue; and Jibrilla Bindow, former governor of Adamawa.

In a post on X, el-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the visitation was for “unity and brotherhood”.

“We joined over faithful for Jumaat prayers at the Yahaya Road Mosque and had a sumptuous lunch at the Buhari Residence,” he wrote.

“By the way, our adversaries should not lose any sleep. It is not about politics. It is about unity and brotherhood. And since we are all politically irrelevant, we just prayed and enjoyed lunch with our mentor.”

After his defection from the APC, el-Rufai said he consulted Buhari before resigning his membership of the party.

He added that he does not take a major decision without first consulting Buhari, adding that the ex-president prayed for him after he shared his defection plan with him.

Meanwhile, Buhari said he remained a committed member of the ruling APC.

In a statement by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s media aide, after el-Rufai’s defection, the former president said he would never turn his back on the ruling party that gave him the platform to become the country’s president.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume had allayed fears that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments are lopsided.

Akume made an assurance to Nigerians following allegations by Senator Ali Ndume that the president has been favouring people from his region while making appointments.

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However, refuting the claim, the SGF said Tinubu is committed to adhering to the principles of the Federal Character.

In statement issued by Segun Imohiosen, the Director, Information and Public Relations for the Office of the SGF, Akume said such insinuations should be disregarded.

The statement said the current administration of President Tinubu is unwavering in its commitment to the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity.

“All appointments are made in strict adherence to federal character principle, as enshrined in Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered).

“It is notable to mention that, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, believes strongly in the unity of Nigeria and is guided by the ideals of fairness and tenets of justice in all appointments. This Administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies,” Imohiosen said.

He said the present government remains steadfast in its pursuit of a prosperous, united and equitable Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of this Administration.

“Pokers of embers of hate and disunity who carry tendentious and unfounded allegations should never be taken seriously by Nigerians.

Inquiries with respect to this matter can be channelled through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which is the official custodian of such appointments,” he added.

The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the growing concerns regarding the alleged lopsided appointments in his administration.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Friday, Ndume accused the President of violating the Federal Character principle, a key provision of the Nigerian Constitution that mandates equal representation in public offices.

According to Ndume, several key positions in Tinubu’s administration have been concentrated in favour of a specific region, leaving other parts of the country underrepresented.

This, he warned, could further fuel political discontent and deepen existing divisions within the country.

Ndume pointed out, “Seventy-two appointees of Tinubu are Yorubas, I’m not talking about North or South. “Section 14(3) of the Constitution is clear—it says that appointments into political positions should be spread in such a way that no tribe is left out. The Constitution says that everybody should have a sense of belonging.”

Naija News reports he expressed his concern, suggesting that President Tinubu might not be fully aware of the imbalance in his appointments, which he described as unintentional.

However, he emphasized that the current situation could be corrected, urging the administration to view his comments as a “wake-up call.”

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Ndume also referenced his past criticisms of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, especially the lopsided selection of service chiefs.

He shared how he confronted Buhari on the issue, and the former President explained his choices. Ndume hopes that President Tinubu will take action to rectify the current imbalance.

“I criticised Buhari on his lopsided appointment of service chiefs, I even confronted him on that and he gave me the reasons,” Ndume stated.

The APC Senator also expressed concern over the rising political opposition against the President. He warned that the dissatisfaction within the ruling party, particularly among APC members, is growing.

“Every vote matters,” Ndume said, stressing that some members of the APC feel neglected and abandoned.

Referring to Governor El-Rufai’s earlier remarks, Ndume explained that many party members are upset because they feel they have no access to the President.

Instead of addressing these grievances, Ndume noted that the Presidency has opted to criticize these individuals in the media, which he deemed “very dangerous.”

Ndume concluded by urging the President and the APC leadership to pay attention to the simmering discontent within the party, as this could have serious implications for the future of the administration.