…says that the Presidency’s action is scandalous
Just hours after the Presidency released the names of 32 other ambassadorial candidates, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Dr. Tanimu Turaki, condemned the list on Saturday, saying it did not meet the expectations of Nigerians.
The party claimed that the list was populated by those it described as “disgraced propagandists, spineless politicians and public servants who are widely perceived negatively by Nigerians and the global community, for their integrity deficit and notable undemocratic activities.”
The PDP stated that it hoped the Presidency would raise the bar of nominees on the list, after waiting for so long, adding that Nigeria had more better qualified hands to show to the world.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reacting on behalf of the party on Saturday in Abuja, said: “This development is not just a sad commentary on the history of diplomatic representation of our country, it is very reprehensible and scandalous.
“While most Nigerians are seriously dismayed by the inclusion of the majority of the nominees, they are not entirely surprised, given the history and disposition of this administration.
“Furthermore, it is an indisputable fact that a nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and esteem of the nominator.
“By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that they are the best people he has to represent our country in the countries where they will be posted.
“The fact that it took the president almost three years to come up with this list speaks to the dearth of excellent people at his disposal.”
The party particularly objected to the inclusion in the list of the name of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, saying the decision was extremely disappointing and “scandalous”.
Ememobong added: “Specifically, we convey the disappointment of many right-thinking Nigerians over the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose administration of our electoral umpire was characterized by innumerable double-crosses, flip-flops and unfulfilled promises, which ultimately resulted in the birth of this administration, which is struggling in all areas of governance.
“Offering him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is a prime example of a biased reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive for the new INEC president to also organize flawed elections in 2027, with the expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely outrageous and completely unacceptable.”
The party reminded President Bola Tinubu and all Nigerians that the respect a country receives from other countries “cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the president and ambassadors.”
He continued: “Therefore, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a disservice to Nigeria, but sets a historic low in diplomatic matters.
“To this end, we demand that President Bola Tinubu withdraw the said list and reappoint only those with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standards, capable of commanding global respect for ambassadorial assignments.”
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