The main opposition party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party, on Saturday, deplored the ambassadorial list sent to the Senate for confirmation by President Bola Tinubu.
The PDP demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ambassadorial list, saying it is populated by people with “integrity deficit”.
The party also asked Tinubu to renominate only Nigerians with “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments”.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated this in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, “This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities. This development is not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous.
“While most Nigerians are seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.
“Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.
“That it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the paucity of excellent people within his reach.”
The party also expressed shock at the inclusion of the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on the list.
The party’s spokesperson alleged that Yakubu’s appointment could serve as a means to induce incumbent INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, to deliver a flawed election with the hope of a similar appointment at the expiry of his tenure.
The statement added, “Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.
“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.
“May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.
“To this end, we demand that President Bola Tinubu withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”
“This list contains the names of many people (disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials) who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable anti-democratic activities.”
The PDP described Tinubu’s ambassadorial list as a sad commentary on Nigeria’s history of diplomatic representation.
”It is very reprehensible and scandalous,” the party added, saying most Nigerians are “seriously appalled by the inclusion of most of the nominees, they are not totally surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.
“Furthermore, it is an incontestable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.”
The party also wondered why it took Tinubu almost three years to produce a list, adding that this speaks to the “paucity of excellent people within his reach”.
“Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians on the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.
“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.
“May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.”
The PDP therefore demanded that President Bola Tinubu should “withdraw the said list and renominate only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”