Former Nigerian diplomat Ambassador Joe Keshi has criticised the Senate’s handling of ambassadorial screenings, warning that Nigerians should not expect any rigorous interrogation of nominees.
Speaking on ARISE News on Monday, Keshi said he had no confidence that the current Senate would challenge any of the names submitted by the presidency.
He stated that Nigerians should not expect surprises, declaring that “let’s not waste time debating whether they will surprise us. They will not surprise us.” He added that “the Senate we know today, under the current leadership of the Senate, are not going to surprise us.”
Keshi argued that the Senate has a record of allowing nominees to bypass scrutiny, stressing that “Nigerian Senate does not pursue such rigorous investigations.” He said the pattern of allowing nominees to simply take a bow would continue, especially for individuals with strong political connections or ties to serving lawmakers.
The former diplomat expressed concern that the lack of proper vetting undermines Nigeria’s global representation and erodes public trust. According to him, some nominees on the list have controversial backgrounds and should face serious questioning, yet the Senate is unlikely to confront them.
Keshi also raised issues with the government’s piecemeal release of ambassadorial lists. He said this approach creates unnecessary controversy and complicates public assessment of the full scope of the appointments. He argued that previous administrations typically submitted a comprehensive list at once, saying, “in the past years… a comprehensive list is put out there and sent to the Senate, not a piecemeal.”
While acknowledging that some nominees are well qualified, Keshi maintained that others do not belong on the list, pointing to former governors with questionable records. He criticised the practice of rewarding politicians who performed poorly in office, stating, “when a guy runs a state and runs it down, and you are giving him another appointment to represent you, does that make sense?”
He also expressed concern about Nigeria’s political culture, noting that “most politicians in Nigeria lose elections, lose their offices, and then they say that they must remain relevant or be part of the political game.”
On specific non career nominees, Keshi acknowledged that some are capable and could represent the country well. He praised some individuals as “very fine characters… who I have no doubt would make good ambassadors,” and described others as having the right temperament and composure for diplomatic service.
However, he emphasised that many career officers within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been overlooked. He appealed to the president to give adequate consideration to professionals within the ministry.
Keshi concluded with the view that Nigeria must prioritise merit and credibility in key diplomatic postings if it hopes to strengthen its foreign policy engagements and restore confidence in public appointments.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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