Ademola Oshodi urges critics to avoid character attacks, insisting none of the nominees has been convicted of any wrongdoing.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has defended the President’s newly released list of ambassadorial nominees, describing them as the most suitable choices for the administration’s goals.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Oshodi pushed back against public criticism surrounding some of the nominees, arguing that the President has the constitutional right to choose individuals he believes can advance Nigeria’s interests.
“This is the best the President has seen for the interest of his administration and for Nigeria,” he said. “Whether anyone accepts it or not, it is his discretion. The real test is how effectively they deliver on their mandate.”
According to him, Nigerians elected a president and, with that, entrusted him with the prerogative to pick his team—including diplomats responsible for economic, cultural and security engagements abroad.
Oshodi also stressed that none of the nominees has been convicted of any crime, urging the public to avoid “damaging the character” of individuals who have not been found guilty in court.
Ambassadorial Controversy
Last Saturday, President Tinubu forwarded a list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The list includes:
- Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC Chairman
- Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Enugu State Governor
- Okezie Ikpeazu, former Abia State Governor
- Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation
- Reno Omokri, former Presidential Aide
Earlier, the President also sent the names of Amin Dalhatu, Oke, and Col. Lateef Are (Rtd.) for approval.
The nominations have triggered heated reactions from political parties and civil society groups.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the list as “scandalous” and demanded its immediate withdrawal, questioning the inclusion of Mahmood Yakubu, who oversaw the 2023 elections.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticised the list, saying it appeared crafted to settle “political IOUs” rather than address Nigeria’s diplomatic challenges.
“After waiting for more than two years, President Bola Tinubu presents an outrageously underwhelming ambassadorial list designed to settle his political indebtedness,” ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said.
Despite the criticisms, the Presidency maintains that the nominees reflect the President’s strategic choices for Nigeria’s foreign representation.