By Adesina Soyooye
The most surprising nominees are the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and a serving Senator, Jimoh Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, nominated 32 more people as Nigeria’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners. He had, a few days ago, nominated three people whose names he forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. The new nominees bring the total to 35.
Among those nominated are Reno Omokri, a former Tinubu hater-turned-lover, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister, former Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors of Abia and Enugu States, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ikpeazu, respectively, both loyalists of the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The surprise nominees on the list are a serving Senator, businessman and entrepreneur, Ibrahim Jimoh, the Senator representing Ondo South and the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
10 women are on the list. They include former First Ladies of Ekiti and Oyo States, Angela Adebayo and Florence Ajimobi respectively. Four of the women are career Ambassadors while six are non-career Ambassadors.
In all, 15 nominees are career Ambassadors while 17 are non-career Ambassadors.
The list of the nominees, in two separate letters – career and non-career nominees – has been forwarded to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for confirmation by the Senate.
The non-career ambassador-designates are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
There are, also, 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 (UBEC).
Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State.
Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former Governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former Ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
The nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are: 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).
The 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 (Kawara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
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 sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation. The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon, according to a statement by main Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
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