Senator Ali Ndume (APC–Borno South) has again criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of being dominated by “kakistocrats and kleptocrats.”
Kakistocracy is defined as government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state while kleptocracy is society or system ruled by people who use their power to steal their country’s resources.
Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, the former Chief Whip of the Senate said those managing the government are incompetent, corrupt, and self-serving. He argued that the administration lacks capable people to manage both domestic and foreign challenges.
SPONSOR AD
“This government doesn’t have people,” Ndume said. “We don’t have ambassadors anywhere. We don’t even have a representative at the United Nations. The government is dominated by kakistocrats and kleptocrats, I want to repeat that again.”
He lamented that key foreign missions remain without ambassadors, leaving Nigeria poorly represented internationally. He said this vacuum worsened the country’s image crisis following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim that a “Christian genocide” was occurring in Nigeria.
“Do you know that we don’t have ambassadors anywhere? The government should really wake up,” he said.
Ndume alleged that many around the president are unqualified and more concerned with personal enrichment than governance. “All they are concerned about is money. If you want to see the president, they’ll ask you how much,” he said. “Even when I write that I want to see the president on national issues, they act as if you’re going to heaven.”
He said President Tinubu is being shielded from sincere voices by aides who manipulate access to him. “The only time you can see him is if you run into him at a public event. They have blocked genuine advice from reaching him,” he said.
The senator also faulted the government’s weak response to international criticism, saying its diplomatic failure has left Nigeria exposed. “I raised a motion in the Senate to correct these misconceptions, but they were indifferent. Now, even Canada and the UK House of Lords are talking about genocide in Nigeria,” he said.
Ndume urged Tinubu to reorganise his team, reappoint seasoned diplomats, and restore Nigeria’s global credibility. “The president should call a Council of State meeting and send respected figures like Akinyemi and Gambari abroad to explain Nigeria’s position,” he advised.
He warned that continued dominance by “unqualified and greedy” individuals could damage the government’s legacy. “It’s true that the government is run by kakistocrats and kleptocrats, that’s why the country is where it is today,” Ndume said, insisting his criticism was born of patriotism, not malice.
Leave a Reply