BREAKING: TINUBU SENDS LIST OF EX-INEC CHAIR, FANI-KAYODE, OMOKRI, 29 OTHERS FOR AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENT
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By: Sefiu Ajape
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, coming just days after he submitted an initial batch of three nominees.
The new list includes former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmud Yakubu; an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri (Delta); and former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, among several others.
“In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors,” according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the statement titled, ‘Tinubu nominates 32 additional ambassadors,’ Onanuga stated, “There are four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.”
He added, “Among the non-career ambassador designates are Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu 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.
“Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Nkechi Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.”
Also listed are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi; former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent; former Abia State Governor, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a businessman and lawyer from Ondo State; and the former Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
Nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner designations include: 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).
Others 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 (Kwara), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
Onanuga noted, “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.”
Last week, President Tinubu submitted three ambassadorial nominees: Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are being considered for postings to the UK, USA, or France upon confirmation.
“More nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon,” Onanuga added.
Saturday’s development aligns with earlier reports indicating that the ambassadorial list would be released in phases, prioritising countries central to Nigeria’s foreign policy interests.
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