The Senior Legislative Aide on Media and Strategy to Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South), Hon Junaid Jubril Maiva has taken a swipe at Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who accused the Senator as ‘Hypocritical Branding’.
Recall that Senator Ndume last Monday on Arise News (Prime Time) kicked against lopsidedness in federal or political appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which according to him, has favoured one section or ethnic group, contrary to the dictates of the Federal Character guidelines.
The former Senate Chief Whip went further to say that Mr. President’s endless list of political appointment which favoured one section or ethnic group goes contrary to Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
Responding to the lawmaker’s comments in a post shared via his X handle on Tuesday evening, Onanuga described Ndume’s criticism as “hypocritical” and “selective perception”.
The presidential aide said Ndume forgot to mention during his interview that the president recently appointed two of his kinsmen to positions in Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Reacting to Onanuga’s accusation in a statement signed by Maiva, the Media Aide to Senator Ndume said, the choice of words used by Mr. Onanuga — branding the Senator a hypocrite with “selective perception” — was not only unfortunate but also unbecoming of a man whose legacy in journalism once stood for truth and democratic values.
The statement reads partly: “As an aide to Senator Ali Ndume, I find it necessary to respond to the recent remarks made by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, regarding the Senator’s concerns over perceived lopsidedness in federal appointments.
“The choice of words used by Mr. Onanuga — branding the Senator a hypocrite with “selective perception” — was not only unfortunate but also unbecoming of a man whose legacy in journalism once stood for truth and democratic values.
“Let me be clear: Senator Ndume’s recent comments are not rooted in sentiment or sectional interest — they are grounded in the principles of equity, fairness, and constitutional order. His concern reflects what many Nigerians across diverse regions are quietly thinking but afraid to say. The idea that pointing out imbalances automatically translates into ingratitude or tribalism is a dangerous narrative — one that dismisses legitimate questions with emotional rebuttals.
“Mr. Onanuga’s reference to two sons of Borno currently holding top positions in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) is, quite frankly, a weak attempt at deflection. These individuals were not appointed as political compensation — they earned their roles through demonstrable capacity, professionalism, and an enviable track record. They are assets to the nation, not tokens to silence legitimate calls for inclusion.
