The Presidency has slammed Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of Borno South for what it characterised as a careless statement on television.
According to the presidency, such unguarded statements make Senator Ndume, a former Chief Whip of the nation’s highest legislative house, unworthy of any right-thinking person’s respect.
Responding to allegations that a cabal has hijacked President Bola Tinubu’s government and that kleptocrats and kakistocrats dominate the administration, Bayo Onanugu, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused the high-ranking senator of making sweeping statements without providing any evidence.
According to the Presidency, “Ndume is entitled to his opinion, as a lone-wolf opposition within the APC, though he most often gets his facts wrong or builds his thesis on a specious, faulty foundation.
“Like he lied about General Buratai being ambushed by terrorists. A ranking Senator making reckless statements on TV cannot command the respect of any right-thinking person.
“His allegation that kleptocrats and kakistocrats dominate the government is just too sweeping. And he made it without providing any scintilla of proof.
“Kakistocrats? Does he know the word’s meaning, or does he just like bandying terms?
“This President has many competent aides, many of whom were accomplished professionals before coming to work for the government. And they are doing a damn good job, reengineering the country’s economy to ensure it is put on a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
“The results of their collective efforts are clear for all to see. The Nigerian economy is getting better, and sustainable growth is being recorded.
The Presidency’s spokesperson claimed that FDI flow is increasing, the stock market is booming, and Companies are declaring huge profits.
He added that net foreign reserve is six times more than what Tinubu inherited and Increase in Revenue generation has been phenomenal, as States are getting more funds from the centre.
He added that contrary to the senator’s view, President Tinubu is not disconnected from the people, adding that the president empathises with them and always pleads that the challenges they faced in the first two years will soon become history as the government tackles the crisis of the high cost of food and medicine while also ramping up the social investment programme for the vulnerable and less privileged.
