…Ndume also referenced the nomination of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who is reported to have died in July.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, on Saturday criticised President Bola Tinubu’s list of 65 ambassadorial nominees, arguing that it violates the federal character principle and should be withdrawn before the Senate screening scheduled for next week.
Ndume, a former Senate Leader and Chief Whip, maintained that the distribution of nominees among states and geopolitical zones fails to meet the constitutional standard for equitable representation in the Federal Government.
In a statement released in Abuja, he cautioned that approving the list in its current form could heighten ethnic tensions at a time when the government should be strengthening national unity.
He pointed out noticeable imbalances in the nomination pattern, noting that some states received as many as three or four slots while others were completely excluded. Ndume also referenced the nomination of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who is reported to have died in July.
“The entire North-East has only seven nominees on the list. Further review shows that the South-West has 15 nominees, while the North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively. The North-Central has 10 nominees in both career and non-career categories, and the South-South has 12,” Ndume stated.
He cautioned that these disparities could fuel tensions and violate Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My earnest appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this crucial stage of his administration, he must avoid decisions that could threaten national cohesion or deepen ethnic mistrust. I know him as a broad-minded leader who is comfortable with all groups across the country. He should withdraw the list and send a fresh one that reflects the true spirit of the Federal Character Principle enshrined in the Constitution,” Ndume added.
The Senate is scheduled to begin screening the 65 ambassadorial nominees next week, following the submission sent by President Tinubu last Thursday. The communication, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, contained 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, along with 31 non-career nominees.
The announcement came less than a day after lawmakers began screening an earlier set of three nominees previously forwarded by the Presidency.
Among the notable career diplomats on the list are Ambassadors Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), and Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa).
The non-career category includes several prominent political figures, such as former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) of 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.
Also featured on the list are former presidential aide Reno Omokri; former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; ex-Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Senate sources indicated that the screening “will not be business as usual,” with opposition lawmakers suggesting they plan to scrutinise several nominees more rigorously.
Akpabio has forwarded the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, giving it a one-week deadline. “The committee is to report back to us within one week,” he stated.
