Senator Mohammed Ndume of Borno South has raised concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s handling of national borrowing and political appointments, accusing him of bypassing the National Assembly for questionable projects worth $9.45 billion. The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker also criticized the president for what he described as ethnically biased appointments, violating the principle of federal character.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS Prime Time, Ndume emphasized that while borrowing for infrastructure development is common in major economies like the U.S., Japan, and China, the loans taken by the Tinubu administration seemed to lack accountability, being allocated to non-productive initiatives. For instance, he pointed to several borrowings, including $500 million for a women’s program in June 2023, $800 million to cushion the effects of fuel price hikes, and $750 million for renewable energy.
Ndume claimed these borrowings amounted to $9.45 billion (about N13 trillion), raising questions about the legitimacy of these loans. When asked if the National Assembly approved the loans, Ndume confirmed that he was unaware of any such approvals.
On the issue of appointments, Ndume criticized the president for what he termed as a non-inclusive, sectional distribution of political roles, alleging that it contradicted the president’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” He stated that political appointments should adhere to Section 14(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates the federal character principle to ensure national inclusivity. According to Ndume, the president’s appointments so far did not meet these criteria, and he urged Tinubu to correct the imbalance.
Despite his criticisms, Ndume affirmed his loyalty to the ruling party, stating that his role as a lawmaker required him to call out discrepancies for the sake of the Nigerian people. He added that his criticisms were not personal, as he had a longstanding relationship with the president.
The presidency, however, rejected Ndume’s claims, with spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissing the senator’s allegations as hypocritical and attention-seeking. Onanuga argued that Ndume’s criticisms were unfounded, pointing out that two of Ndume’s kinsmen had been appointed to key positions in NNPC Limited under Tinubu’s administration.
The presidential spokesperson reiterated that President Tinubu’s appointments were based on merit and integrity, with an emphasis on inclusivity. Onanuga urged the senator to focus on constructive criticism rather than baseless allegations, warning that such behavior could harm national unity.
