Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List Unfair, Must Be Withdrawn — Ndume
Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s list of 65 ambassadorial nominees, insisting it violates the federal character principle and should be withdrawn ahead of next week’s Senate screening.
The former Senate Leader and Chief Whip argued that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Ndume warned that approving the list could heighten ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be fostering national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the distribution of nominees, noting that some states have three or four slots while others have none. Ndume also pointed out the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly passed away in July.
“The entire North-East region has seven nominees. Further checks revealed that the South-West has 15 nominees, North-West and South-East have 13 and 9 respectively, North-Central has 10, while South-South has 12 nominees, both career and non-career,” Ndume said.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust. I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment of the country. He should present a fresh set of nominees that align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle.”
The Senate is expected to commence screening of the 65 nominees next week, following their submission by President Tinubu last Thursday.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the transmission, which includes 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 31 non-career nominees.
This announcement came less than 24 hours after senators began screening an earlier batch of three nominees.
Notable career diplomats on the list include Ambassadors Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), and Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa).
The non-career nominees feature political heavyweights such as former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) from Cross River; ex-presidential aide and former senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom); and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) from Kano.
Other prominent names include former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, ex-Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro, former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Senate insiders told our correspondent that the screening “will not be business as usual,” with opposition senators hinting at a more probing session for several nominees.
Akpabio has referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, giving it a one-week deadline to report back. “The committee is to report back to us in one week,” he said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
