The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu over his latest list of 32 ambassadorial nominees, describing the selections as “reprehensible,” “scandalous,” and a reflection of the administration’s low standards.
The president on Saturday transmitted the names to the Senate for confirmation, coming just days after an initial batch of three nominees.
Among the controversial figures on the list are:Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Reno Omokri, former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, immediate past Governor of Enugu State.
In a strongly worded statement issued Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP accused several nominees of having records of “anti-democratic conduct” and questioned the integrity of the entire list.
The opposition party noted that it took President Tinubu nearly three years to compile the list, suggesting a “paucity of excellent people” within his circle.
“By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country abroad,” the statement read, adding that the nominees are a “clear and direct reflection” of the president’s own values.
The PDP reserved its harshest criticism for the nomination of former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, calling the appointment a “skewed reward” for allegedly flawed elections.
“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,” the party alleged.
Describing the development as a “sad commentary” on Nigeria’s diplomatic standing, the PDP warned that sending ambassadors with “tainted political profiles” would lead to a “diplomatic all-time low.”
The party has called on President Tinubu to immediately withdraw the list and replace it with nominees who possess “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing” capable of commanding respect on the global stage.
As at the time of filing this report, the Presidency is yet to respond to the PDP’s allegations. The Senate is expected to begin screening the nominees in the coming weeks.
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