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Senior Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has defended the newly released list of ambassadorial nominees, describing them as the best choices for the administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Oshodi insisted that President Tinubu has the constitutional prerogative to appoint individuals he believes can effectively represent Nigeria’s interests abroad.
“This is the best the President has seen for the interests of his administration and for Nigeria,” Oshodi said.
“We voted for a president. We gave him the prerogative to choose his people.”
He argued that it is normal practice globally for leaders to select people they trust as envoys, adding that none of the nominees has been convicted of any crime.
Oshodi urged Nigerians not to malign individuals who have not been found guilty by a court.
President Tinubu released the list of 32 ambassadorial nominees on Saturday.
Among them are former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, former Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, former Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri
Earlier, Tinubu had also forwarded the names of Oke, Amin Dalhatu, and Col. Lateef Are (rtd.) to the Senate for confirmation.
The list sparked criticism from various quarters, especially opposition parties.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the list as “scandalous” and demanded its withdrawal, particularly questioning the inclusion of Mahmood Yakubu.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) slammed the nominations, saying they appeared to be aimed at settling political debts rather than addressing Nigeria’s foreign policy challenges.
ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said, “After waiting for more than two years… President Bola Tinubu presents an outrageously underwhelming ambassadorial list designed to settle his political IOUs rather than fix Nigeria’s urgent international relations crises.”
