Senator Ali Ndume, a former Senate Leader and lawmaker representing Borno South, has praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing several Northerners to critical positions in government agencies, describing it as a move towards inclusive administration.
In a statement personally signed and delivered in Abuja on Saturday, Ndume complimented the President for reacting to past concerns about regional imbalances in government appointments.
His comments came after the announcement on Friday of 12 new regional appointments to critical national positions.
The new appointments include Yazid Shehu Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, Hamza Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Abubakar Jarengol (Adamawa) as Executive Director of Operations at NAIC, and Sama’ila Audu (Katsina) as Executive Director of Administration at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Others include Prof. Musa Tafsiri (Kebbi) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, and Isa Aremu (Kwara) as Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies.
Ndume, famous for criticising the administration for marginalising the North in appointments, referenced Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates fair representation of Nigeria’s diverse regions. He had earlier warned that any continued imbalance could deepen discontent and foster opposition against the administration.
However, in his latest statement, the senator applauded Tinubu’s response, describing the recent appointments as a reflection of the president’s openness to feedback and commitment to national unity.
“President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticism. I have known him to be a fair-minded, cosmopolitan person. No one is infallible,” Ndume said.
He continued, “When our leaders in the North, including myself, expressed concern over the lopsided nature of previous appointments, it wasn’t to attack but to highlight an important constitutional issue. This move by the president shows his ability to listen and adapt.”
Ndume stated that, while he remains committed to holding the government accountable, he respects President Tinubu’s bigger vision for Nigeria and believes in his ability to fulfil democratic promises.
He praised the new appointees and asked them to uphold the trust placed in them, adding that Nigerians’ expectations remain high.
Ndume pledged his continuing commitment to the president, emphasising that his comments would always be motivated by patriotism and national interest.
