By Uche Mbah
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of appointment of 12 non-career Ambassadors whose tenure has ended, at the same time dropping the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, George Oguntade, and Sylvanus Nsofor, Ambassador to the United States. They were probably dropped on grounds of age.
In a statement issued Thursday by the Presidential Media Aid, Garba Shehu, President Buhari congratulated those whose appointments were renewed, stressing the expectation of the President that they continue to uphold and promote the values of stewardship to Nigeria while forming themselves as bridges of good relations with other nations.
“The assurance from the president became necessary following recent complaints after the announcement of 41 non-career ambassadors that some states were not captured,” the statement read.
“The renewal of the appointments followed a performance evaluation, which necessitated an approval for continuation in office of the ambassadors, & the President will still decide if they will remain in their current postings.”
The continued retention of the two dropped ambassadors despite their ages has been the but of jokes and anger against the Buhari administration, particularly the ambassador to the United States, who is retiring at 85. The Oguntade is 80. Oguntade represented Ogun state while Nsofor represented Imo state.
Below is a list of the non-career Ambassadors whose appointments were renewed.
| Uzoma Emenike | Abia |
| Yusuf Tuggar | Bauchi |
| Muhammad Madugu | Bauchi |
| Baba Jida | Borno |
| Uyigue Oghogho | Edo |
| Eniola Ajayi | Ekiti |
| Deborah Iliya | Kaduna |
| Mohammed Rimi | Katsina |
| Tijjani Muhammad-Bande | Kebbi |
| Modupe Irele | Lagos |
| Adeyinka Asekun | Ogun |
| Goni Bura | Yobe |
