Presidency Silences Critics, Mentions Date Tinubu Will Appoint Ambassadors: “Buhari Took 20 Months”

• President Tinubu's led federal government has justified the delay in the appointment of ambassadors
• Tinubu’s aide, Ademola Oshodi, responded to critics and revealed that it took ex-President Muhammadu Buhari 20 months to announce his ambassadors
• In a trending interview, Oshodi further disclosed that Tinubu will announce his ambassadors in a few weeks

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

State House, Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will announce his ambassadors within the next few weeks.

This is coming 16 months after recalling all career and political ambassadors representing Nigeria overseas.

When will Tinubu announce ambassadors?

Ademola Oshodi, a senior special adviser on foreign affairs and protocol to Bola Tinubu, revealed this on Channels Television’s 2024 year-in-review programme on Sunday, December 29.

He faulted critics, defended the delay and noted that the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari took 20 months to appoint ambassadors.

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He explained the role the Nigerian Senate led by Godswill Akpabio will play to achieve this.

“I believe in the next few weeks, there will be a pronouncement for the ambassadors, and steps will be taken by the Senate and accreditation to put them in place in their various missions around the world,” he said.

Tinubu is working to appoint Nigeria’s ambassadors

Meanwhile, critics, including Nigeria’s former ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lawrence Obisakin and former Nigeria’s high commissioner in Australia, Ayoola Olukanni, had expressed concern over the delay and emphasized the need for prompt appointments to ensure effective representation.

Legit.ng reported that in September 2023, President Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors representing the country across the world just barely three months after his inauguration.

The minister of foreign affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, announced the decision barely 24 hours after the president recalled Sarafa Isola, Nigeria’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

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However, the president has yet to send a list of fresh ambassadors to the Senate for approval.

Reacting, Oshodi said his principal is working to ensure envoys are appointed and sent to foreign soils.

The presidential aide said:

“It is something that the President and his administration are focused on. As much as the ambassadors are key, I want to clearly state that even the last administration, without giving excuses, took 20 months for them to put ambassadors in place.”

Tinubu makes 17 appointments in Nigerian embassies

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu approved the appointments of five new Chargé D’affaires and 12 Consuls General for Nigeria in 14 countries.

The presidency disclosed the announcement, quoting the minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and listing the names and portfolios of the 17 appointees.

Ambassador Tuggar was quoted as having urged the appointees to shun politics and be committed to their diplomatic callings.

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Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng