ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, on Saturday faulted President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees, arguing that the list breaches the federal character principle and should be withdrawn before next week’s Senate screening.
Ndume, a former Senate Leader and Chief Whip, stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
In a statement issued in Abuja, he warned that allowing the list to proceed could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be promoting national unity.
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He highlighted disparities in the nominee distribution, pointing out that while some states have three or four slots, others have none.
He also noted the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly passed away in July.
“The entire North-East state has seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively. North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee,s while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Ndume said.
He cautioned that such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution, urging President Tinubu to reconsider the list.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Ndume added.
The Senate is set to begin screening the 65 nominees next week, following the submission from President Tinubu last Thursday.
The transmission, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, included 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 31 non-career nominees.
This announcement came less than 24 hours after senators began screening an earlier batch of three nominees forwarded by the Presidency.
Notable career diplomats on the list include Ambassadors Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), and Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa).
The non-career nominees feature prominent figures such as former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) from Cross River; ex-presidential aide and former senator, Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom); and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) from Kano.
Other recognizable names include former presidential aide Reno Omokri; former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; ex-Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; ex-Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Senate insiders told our correspondent that the exercise “will not be business as usual,” with opposition senators signaling a more probing session for several nominees.
Akpabio has referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with a one-week deadline. “The committee is to report back to us in one week,” he stated.