The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has made serious allegations that some officials working within the Presidential Villa are demanding bribes from people, including senior government functionaries, who are seeking access to President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, aired his claims during an interview on Arise News Channel on Wednesday.
He expressed “frustration over what he described as a corrupt and exclusionary system” surrounding the President.
According to the lawmaker, only “a select few individuals have direct access to the President,” while others are forced to navigate intermediaries who “allegedly demand payments.”
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Ndume lamented his own experience, stating: “I don’t have access to the President. The only time I see him is when he’s attending an event.”
He went on to criticize the system, saying: “That’s how they run the government. It’s dominated by kakistocrats, people who are the least qualified or most corrupt. If you want to see the President, they’ll ask you how much you’re willing to pay.”
The Senate Chief Whip revealed that his own official attempts to reach the President were consistently “frustrated by bureaucratic bottlenecks and aides who deliberately blocked communication.”
He described the experience as “frustrating and embarrassing,” saying: “I wrote to them, requesting a meeting with the President to discuss some financial matters, but they kept playing games as if they want you to go to heaven first.”
As of press time, “no official statement has been issued from the Presidential Villa regarding Ndume’s allegations.”
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