Ndume Slams Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Lists, Wants Withdrawal

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, on Saturday, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s list of 65 ambassadorial nominees, claiming it violated the federal character principle and should be withdrawn before next week’s Senate screening.

Ndume, a former Senate Leader and one-time Chief Whip, argued that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones failed to meet the constitutional standard for equitable representation in the Federal Government.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the lawmaker cautioned that allowing the list to proceed could fuel ethnic suspicions at a time when the administration should focus on fostering national unity.

He pointed out disparities in the allocation, noting that while some states have up to four nominees, others have none. Ndume also raised concerns over the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died 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 nominees, while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Ndume said.

He warned that such imbalances could escalate tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.

“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 after receiving the submission from President Tinubu last Thursday. The transmission, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, included 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners alongside 31 non-career nominees.

The announcement came less than a day after senators had begun vetting an earlier batch of three nominees sent 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 list features several prominent figures, including 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 high-profile 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; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and ex-Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Akpabio has referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to scrutinise it and report its findings within one week. “The committee is to report back to us in one week,” he said.