Ndume to Tinubu: Remove ‘Kakistocrats’ or Risk More Damage

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action against what he described as “kakistocrats” occupying influential positions within the Presidency, warning that their continued presence could undermine the administration.

Ndume made the remarks while reacting to the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, insisting that his concerns were primarily about the competence of officials surrounding the President.

“My concern remains that the President has so many kakistocrats dominating the presidency. Unless he does something about it, they will continue to mess him up,” the senator said.

He pointed to recent controversies, including the discovery of a fake government agency and the suspension of a permanent secretary in the Presidency, as examples of what he described as administrative failures.

Ndume, however, commended Tinubu for allowing investigations into the alleged irregularities but argued that the President needed to take stronger action.

He also criticised the composition of the APC presidential campaign council, arguing that the party’s national leadership should be responsible for selling the achievements of the administration ahead of the 2027 election.

Advertisement

“The President is the product of the party. The owner of a product should be the one selling the product, not the product selling itself,” he said.

According to Ndume, the APC National Chairman should head the campaign council instead of the President.

The senator further suggested that Tinubu may not have been fully involved in the process that produced the campaign council, noting that the controversy surrounding its announcement raised questions about the President’s level of awareness.

Ndume said his criticisms were not driven by personal or partisan interests but by his desire to see Nigeria’s political system strengthened.

On the economy, the lawmaker defended the removal of petrol subsidy, describing the policy as necessary but acknowledging the hardship it had imposed on Nigerians.

He said the prolonged economic hardship could become a major challenge for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as citizens continue to wait for the promised relief.

Advertisement

 Vanguard reports that Ndume also criticised some presidential spokespersons for allegedly responding to critics with insults rather than addressing the substance of their concerns.

“When anybody makes a statement, the President’s spokespersons rush on TV to insult the person and call them names. That is not it,” he said.

He urged the administration to engage critics by addressing their specific arguments and concerns rather than attacking them personally.