Your Ambassadorial Nominees Are Disgraced Propagandists, Characterless Politicians - PDP to Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the newly released list of ambassadorial nominees submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, accusing the President of using the exercise to reward loyalists and controversial figures.

The opposition party said the inclusion of the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, raises serious concerns and reflects the values of the current administration.

President Tinubu had on Saturday forwarded 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, coming weeks after submitting an initial three names.

Those on the expanded list include Mahmood Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; ex-Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.

The PDP said the President had not chosen the most qualified Nigerians to represent the country abroad but had instead identified individuals who played questionable roles in his political ascent. 

According to the party, many of the nominees fall into the category of “disgraced propagandists” and “characterless politicians” who lack the national and international credibility expected of diplomats.

“This development is not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous,” the statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, said.

The party added that it was unsurprised by the President’s choices, noting that his appointments have consistently followed a similar pattern.

“By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted,” it added.

The PDP expressed particular outrage over the nomination of Mahmood Yakubu, whose stewardship of INEC it described as riddled with inconsistencies and unfulfilled promises. 

The party said his elevation at this time amounted to a dangerous precedent.

“Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.

“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.

“Appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.”

The party urged President Tinubu to withdraw the ambassadorial list, insisting that Nigeria has more qualified and credible individuals capable of representing the nation on the global stage. 

It also maintained that only persons with strong democratic values and unquestionable integrity should be appointed to diplomatic missions.