Shockwaves in Abuja as Tinubu’s New Ambassadorial List Sparks Uproar — Reno Omokri, Fani-Kayode, Others Make Surprise Cut!
By Passman Akpos
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, marking the second batch of diplomatic appointments within a week. The President had earlier sent three names for confirmation, bringing the total number of new nominees to 35.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested the “expeditious consideration and confirmation” of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees. The list includes four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career nominees, reflecting a growing gender balance in Nigeria’s foreign service appointments.
Among the non-career nominees are notable political figures and public officials, including:
Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former presidential aide
Reno Omokri (Delta)
Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, former INEC chairman@Erelu Angela Adebayo, former First Lady of Ekiti State
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Enugu State Governor
Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Speaker, Katsina House of Assembly
Yakubu N. Gambo, former Plateau Commissioner and ex-Deputy Executive Secretary of UBEC
Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, former Senator (Plateau)
Otunba Femi Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister
Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Oyo First Lady
Lola Akande, former Lagos Commissioner
Sen. Grace Bent (Adamawa)
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)
Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), former envoy to the Holy See
The career ambassador nominees include:
Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia); Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba); Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa); Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi); Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa); Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi); Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun); Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo); Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo); Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger); Amb. Shehu Barde (Katsina); Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno); Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna); Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara); and Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
According to the Presidency, the envoys will eventually be deployed to strategic countries with which Nigeria maintains strong bilateral relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, as well as multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Last week, the first batch of nominees — Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun) — were submitted for consideration and are expected to be posted to the United Kingdom, United States, or France upon confirmation.
President Tinubu also stated that more ambassadorial nominations will be announced in the coming days as the administration undertakes a broad restructuring of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps.
The announcement was conveyed in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
