Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly released ambassadorial list, describing it as a reflectio...
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly released ambassadorial list, describing it as a reflection of a country that “constantly rewards criminality and misdeeds.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, Effiong said the nominations show that “those who have contributed to Nigeria’s destruction are largely the ones nominated to be the image and voice of our country abroad. It is a travesty.”
He argued that “the quality of a country’s ambassador is an indication of the country’s direction,” insisting that the latest list does not inspire confidence.
According to him, “most of the names on President Tinubu’s list are career politicians who have failed to deliver in their previous roles, sycophants, and morally challenged individuals.”
Effiong expressed particular displeasure over the inclusion of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying: “I find it particularly upsetting, that the same discredited Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, who supervised a highly disputed and rigged election in 2023, has now been rewarded with an ambassadorial position.”
He added that “no country on earth has prospered through a shambolic, corrupt and discredited leadership recruitment process.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that President Tinubu transmitted a second batch of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, forwarding 32 additional names just days after submitting an initial list of three.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu urged the Senate to “consider and confirm expeditiously” 15 career ambassadorial nominees and 17 non-career nominees.
This development was revealed in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, a media aide President Tinubu on Saturday.
“There are four women on the career ambassadors' list and six women on the non-career ambassadors' list.”
Among the non-career nominees, the Presidency highlighted notable figures including Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta); former INEC Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu; former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo; and former Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).”
“Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.”
“Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.”
For career ambassador and high commissioner designates, the President listed: “Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).”
“The other nominees are Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah(Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kawara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).”
According to the Presidency, “The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.”
Tinubu had earlier forwarded three ambassadorial nominees last week: Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). “All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon," the statement read.
Earlier, Tinubu sent names of three nominees namely Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa, and Ayodele Oke to the Nigerian Senate.
"The list contains three names for now, I am sure others will follow,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said after reading the letter from President Bola Tinubu nominating the first set of ambassador-designates.
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