Tinubu a listening leader, Ndume lauds appointments of Northerners into key agencies

Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a listening leader.

Ndune specifically commended President Tinubu over his appointments of Nigerians from the three geo- political zones in the North into key federal government parastatals and agencies.

In the announcement made on Friday, about 12 individuals from the North were placed into strategic national positions.

The list included,Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC); Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Baba (Kano) as
Programme Manager, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP); Alhaji Abubakar Umar Jarengol (Adamawa)
Executive Director, Operations – Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Barrister Sama’ila Audu (Katsina), Executive Director, Administration – Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Professor Musa Garba Mai Tafsiri (Kebbi), Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, Comrade Isa Aremu, ( Kwara) Director-General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS),amongst others.

The Borno born lawmaker, in a statement he personally signed on Saturday described the appointments as a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.

The Senator had last April expressed concern over lopsidedness in the Tinubu’s administration appointments which he described as a clear violation of the Federal Character principle, enshrined in the Constitution.

Citing Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, he maintained that such imbalance and clear violation of the Constitution, could deepen political discontent and fuel opposition coalitions against the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
But in his weekend statement, the former Chief Whip of the Senate said he was impressed by the action of the President which he noted has shown that he is a leader with a listening ears.

“President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticisms.
“I have known him to be a fair minded, cosmopolitan person. Yes, we are all bound to make mistakes. No one is infallible.

“I could recall that our leaders in the North, including my humble self, who felt jolted over recent appointments into key Federal positions, raised our voices, screaming against the perceived imbalances.

“The hallmark of a good leader and Statesman is to quickly adjusts himself when he takes a decision or makes a policy pronouncement that a large section of the people finds unpopular and uncomfortable with.

“President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has demonstrated several times that he is a responsive leader.

“This recent appointment of Northerners into key positions in Federal parastatals and agencies was meant to address the imbalances thrown up by his previous appointments which left the North stranded.”

Senator Ndume, who declared that he has nothing personal against President Tinubu and his administration, restated his conviction in the capacity of President Tinubu to meet the expectations of Nigerians in delivery of dividends of democracy.

While congratulating the appointees, Senator Ndume urged them not to fail the nation by justifying the confidence reposed in them which informed their individual nominations.

He further assured President Tinubu of his loyalty to him at all times, not shirking in his duty as a lawmaker to point out perceived excesses of the Executive.