Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has described some of the names President Bola Tinubu submitted to the Senate for ambassadorial confirmation as “shocking.”
In a post on X, Obi expressed disappointment with the list, calling several nominees questionable. “Yes, some of the names being paraded to represent us as ambassadors globally are shocking. But with a leadership that has allowed mediocrity, corruption, and impunity to rise to the top, who else did you expect them to choose?” he asked.
The former governor of Anambra State also highlighted the country’s economic and social challenges. “When our people are being killed, our leaders are busy hosting dinners. When children are being snatched from their schools, the political class is celebrating and dancing. When families cannot afford their next meal, those in power are welcoming defectors and exchanging gifts as though Nigeria is not burning. This is not governance. This is not leadership. And this is certainly not the Nigeria we deserve,” he added.
Obi is not alone in criticizing the list. Joe Keshi, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also questioned the character of some nominees, saying they should have no business in the diplomatic service “by any standard.”
However, Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, defended the appointments, describing the nominees as the best fit for the administration. He emphasized that the President has the right to choose individuals he believes can advance the country’s interests.
On November 29, Tinubu forwarded a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, a week after sending an initial list of three. Notable nominees include Reno Omokri, former presidential aide; Mahmood Yakubu, ex-INEC chairman; Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister; and Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia State. Other names on the list are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, ex-governor of Enugu State; Ondo Senator and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim; former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo; and former Adamawa Senator Grace Bent.
The Senate is now expected to consider their confirmation.
