By Anamati Inyang | RISMADAR Voice Media |November 6, 2025
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has launched another strong criticism against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing it as being controlled by “kakistocrats and kleptocrats.”
The senator, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, accused the government of being managed by individuals who are incompetent, corrupt, and self-serving.
Kakistocracy, he explained, refers to government by the least competent citizens, while kleptocracy is a system led by those who exploit power for personal gain.
“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, and I want to repeat that again.”
Ndume lamented that Nigeria currently lacks ambassadors in key foreign missions, leaving the country poorly represented abroad. He said the vacuum has worsened Nigeria’s diplomatic image, particularly after former U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that a “Christian genocide” was happening in Nigeria.
“Do you know that we don’t have ambassadors anywhere? The government should really wake up,” he said.
The former Senate Chief Whip alleged that many of those around the president are unqualified and driven by greed rather than service. “All they are concerned about is money. If you want to see the president, they’ll ask you how much,” he claimed. “Even when I write that I want to see the president on national issues, they act as if you’re going to heaven.”
Ndume accused some aides of isolating President Tinubu from honest voices, saying they have made it difficult for patriotic leaders to offer genuine advice. “The only time you can see him is if you run into him at a public event. They have blocked sincere advice from reaching him,” he said.
The senator also faulted the government’s poor diplomatic response to global criticisms, arguing that Nigeria’s image continues to suffer due to lack of engagement. “I raised a motion in the Senate to address these misconceptions, but they were indifferent. Now, even Canada and the UK House of Lords are talking about genocide in Nigeria,” he added.
Ndume urged President Tinubu to reorganise his administration, reappoint competent 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 allowing “unqualified and greedy” individuals to dominate the government could further damage its legacy. “It’s true that the government is run by kakistocrats and kleptocrats, and that’s why the country is where it is today,” Ndume concluded, stressing that his remarks were driven by patriotism, not hostility.
