Senator Ali Ndume, who was dismissed from his role as the Senate chief whip for criticising President Bola Tinubu’s government, affirmed on Friday that he stands by his earlier remarks. 

At a press conference on Friday, Mr Ndume insisted that all he said regarding Mr Tinubu’s government was correct and that he “did nothing wrong.”

“I have reviewed the interview I granted and shared it with friends, elders, and others to ask whether I said anything wrong. Unanimously, and by my own conviction, I did nothing wrong or say anything incorrect,” Mr Ndume said at a press conference. “Therefore, I want to state that I stand by everything I said in the interview.” 

On Wednesday, the Senate removed Mr Ndume as chief whip. It appointed Mohammed Monguno, the representative for Borno North, in his place following an interview where he berated Mr Tinubu’s administration. 

Mr Ndume had characterised Mr Tinubu’s government as both “kakistocratic” and “kleptocratic,” adding the president is “caged” and obstructed from perceiving the true state of affairs in the country. 

“We believed in Renewed Hope. But as I said, I speak plainly. This government is doomed because it is now run by kakistocrats. Kakistocrats are those who govern through the worst, least qualified, and most unscrupulous citizens,” Mr Ndume stated on Arise TV last Friday. “This government is run by kakistocrats and kleptocrats.”

In a pointed validation of Mr Ndume’s criticisms, Mr Tinubu announced the appointment of Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay, a former Lagos lawmaker who was involved in the scandalous diversion of COVID-19 palliatives, repackaging them as birthday gifts.