By Kingston Magare 1.12.2025
President Bola Tinubu list of nominees for the ambassadorial postings continues to generate heat in the political circles.
Adding his voice to the list of Nigerians who have frowned at Tinubu’s choice is Joe Keshi, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said during an interview on Channels TV that some of the individuals have characters that do not make worthy to being ambassadors of Nigeria.
“I’m comfortable with some names on the list, but the truth of the matter is that the bulk of the people on the non-career list is a bit disturbing. Are these the kind of people we want to represent Nigeria?
“You have people who, if justice had prevailed and if this country had been run properly, and the rules of the game are obeyed, actually should be cooling their heels in the walls of the prison and not being sent out as ambassadors,” Keshi said
“You have people who have governed their states. They were absolute failures. They showed no leadership when they led their states, and the governors who took over from them are struggling to repair the damage they’ve done to their states.
“Those are the kind of people being rewarded, either because they have helped you to destroy other political parties, and the rest of it.”
Some of the individuals on the on list include former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; former governors of Enugu and Abia states, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu; a former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, and a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
However, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has described the ambassadorial nominees as the best for Tinubu’s administration.
“This is the best the President has seen for the interests of his administration and for Nigeria. I can tell you that whether you accept it or anybody else accepts it, it is his discretion.
“And we’ll see at the end of the day how much they achieve their goal. And that’s what the ultimate goal is entirely.
“We voted for a president. We gave him the prerogative to choose his people. This is the best for his administration to make sure his administration succeeds, whether for economic, security, or for just even just cultural needs.”