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By Oscar Okhifo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, describing the list as “scandalous” and unfit to project Nigeria’s image abroad.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday and titled “Ambassadorial list: Scandalous and reflective of presidential values,” the party said the nominations expose the values of the current administration and threaten Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility.
The PDP, through its spokesman Comrade Ini Ememobong, said many Nigerians were angered by the names on the list, though the party claimed the development was not surprising considering what it called the government’s antecedents.
“It is an incontestable fact that nominees are a direct reflection of the nominator. By putting forward these persons, the President has revealed the kind of people he considers fit to represent Nigeria in foreign lands,” the statement read.
The party also faulted the nearly three-year delay in producing the list, saying it underscored a shortage of “excellent hands” within the President’s political circle.
The PDP singled out the nomination of former INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of presiding over an electoral body that failed to meet public expectations. According to the opposition party, offering Yakubu an ambassadorial position amounts to rewarding failure and sets a dangerous precedent ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“To nominate him at a time like this is completely unacceptable and sends the wrong signal to those currently entrusted with conducting future elections,” the party said.
The PDP warned that a country’s international respect is tied to the integrity of its leadership and diplomatic representatives, stressing that appointing individuals with questionable records would damage Nigeria’s reputation. The party therefore demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the list immediately and submit a fresh one made up of nominees with proven integrity, sound democratic credentials, and the moral authority to adequately represent Nigeria on the global stage.
Similarly,human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong expressed dismay over the list, saying; “Those who have contributed to Nigeria’s destruction are largely the ones nominated to be the image and voice of the country abroad. This is a travesty.”
Effiong particularly condemned the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of presiding over a “very fraudulent election” in 2023.
Social media has also erupted over the inclusion of controversial figures such as former presidential aide Reno Omokri and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode.
One critic, drew parallels to the words of Thomas Paine: “The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and rascally individuals of mankind.” he thinks the political philosopher sure mirrored Nigeria accurately with those words.
Others, sadly said ours is a “unique” country, where the worst citizens are often chosen over the nation’s soundest minds, raising concerns that Nigeria’s democracy is fast drifting toward a rule by the least qualified.