Former Senate Leader and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Ali Ndume has called on President Bola Tinubu to remove what he described as “kakistrocrats” from his administration, warning that incompetent officials could continue to create problems for the government.
Ndume made the call during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, using the recent controversy over an alleged fake government agency as an example of what he considers serious lapses in oversight.
The Borno South senator argued that some of the controversies surrounding the Tinubu administration could have been avoided if competent officials were in charge. He said the alleged operation of a fake agency within government premises had reinforced his earlier concerns about the quality of some appointments.
“Already, I’ve been vindicated on that, as to saying that my concern is that the president has so many kakistrocrats that dominate the presidency,” Ndume said.
President Tinubu has since ordered the arrest of Nwabueze George, who was identified as the national coordinator of the disputed National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office. The president also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries after findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu said the discovery emerged from an investigation into the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and other weaknesses in government procedures. The probe has raised questions about how disputed government structures could operate without being detected earlier.
Ndume acknowledged Tinubu’s decision to suspend the officials involved, saying the president deserved credit for taking action. However, he maintained that stronger measures were needed to prevent similar incidents and to address what he sees as wider problems within the administration.
“I give the president credit. That is why I insist that if he had capable hands, all this mess and embarrassment wouldn’t be happening,” Ndume said. He questioned why, despite the latest developments, the president had not yet taken what he considered sufficient action against those responsible for the lapses.
