Senator Ali Ndume has criticised what he described as a lack of capable hands around President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the situation is contributing to repeated embarrassment for the administration.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made the remarks while appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday.
His comments followed the reported discovery of purported fake agencies operating within the Presidency, including the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The Issue Behind Ndume’s Criticism
The latest development reportedly emerged from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
Ndume argued that the discovery pointed to wider concerns about the level of oversight within the administration.
He said the problem was no longer an isolated incident, claiming that investigations had uncovered additional irregularities.
According to the senator, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) also discovered more cases, while some Permanent Secretaries in the Presidency were subsequently suspended.
“They Will Keep Messing Him Up”
Ndume said the situation could continue to damage the President politically unless action was taken against those he considers incapable of properly managing government responsibilities.
“President Tinubu has too many kakistocrats that dominate the Presidency. Unless he does something about it, they will keep messing him up.”
By “kakistocrats,” Ndume was referring to what he described as people lacking the competence required to operate effectively within the administration.
He argued that capable officials should have prevented the emergence of what he described as fake agencies and the embarrassment they have caused the government.
“It is now a known thing that Nigeria has fake agencies that operate with offices. If the President had capable hands, all these mess and embarrassments wouldn’t be happening.”
What The Investigations Have Raised
Ndume also pointed to the reported findings of the ICPC and the suspension of Permanent Secretaries as evidence, in his view, that the issue extends beyond the alleged existence of fake agencies.
He questioned why, despite the developments, the President had not taken what he considered sufficient action.
“And after the ICPC investigated, they discovered even more, and now you have Permanent Secretaries also in the Presidency who had to be suspended. The President is still not taking appropriate action on all these.”
His criticism therefore places responsibility not only on the officials allegedly involved, but also on the President’s ability to maintain effective oversight of those operating within his administration.
The Governance Question
The developments described by Ndume raise a broader question about administrative control inside the Presidency.
If purported agencies can operate with offices before being identified and investigated, the issue extends beyond the individuals involved to questions about how government institutions are monitored and verified.
For Tinubu’s administration, the political significance lies in whether the reported discoveries are treated as isolated cases or as signs of deeper weaknesses in oversight.
Ndume’s position is that the President needs to act against the officials he blames for the problems.
The question that remains is whether the reported investigations and suspensions will lead to broader reforms within the Presidency — and whether further action will be taken to prevent similar situations from occurring again.
