Senator Ali Ndume, the outspoken lawmaker representing Borno South, has accused presidential aides of turning Aso Rock into a toll gate, demanding bribes before any visitor can reach President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday monitored by Truth Live News, Ndume declared it “relatively impossible” to secure a private audience without greasing palms. “I don’t have a chance to see the president,” he said. “The only time I can see the president is when he is going to an event.”
The senator, a former Senate Chief Whip, painted a damning picture of the Villa’s inner circle. “This is how they run the government. I’m telling you, they don’t have people there. The government is dominated by Kakistocrats. If you want to see the president, they will ask you how much.”
Ndume revealed he once wrote formally requesting a meeting on “some financial issues,” only to be stonewalled. “They were playing games as if they want you to go to heaven,” he fumed.
The allegations surfaced amid Nigeria-U.S. diplomatic friction, with Ndume suggesting the same gatekeeping culture is damaging the country’s global image. Neither the Presidency nor the State House has responded to the claims.
Coming from a ruling-party stalwart who helped Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, Ndume’s words carry extra sting.