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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that persistent failure by President Bola Tinubu to appoint ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions will have disastrous consequences on foreign relations and make life more difficult for Nigerias.
In a statement issued by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Sunday, the ADC recalled that this is the longest, that Nigeria has gone without duly accredited ambassadors in any of its foreign missions adding that if the embarrassing situation is allowed to continue, other countries will starts to downgrade Nigeria at the detriment of its citizens.
The ADC observed that the Tinubu-led administration refusal to appoint ambassadors after two years in office reflects the scale of its ambition for the country and it’s utter lack of understanding of what it takes to govern an important country like Nigeria.
The coalition party recalled that since Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s 109 ambassadors from across the world in 2023, none has been replaced, leaving country with no voice or representation when decisions are taken that affects the country and it’s citizens at the international arena.
“A most recent consequences of this vacuum is the escalation of visa and other consular issues between Nigeria and the duo of the United States and UAE. Yet, the government has failed to demonstrate any urgency to remedy this embarrassing situation. Junior diplomats or charge de affair cannot take the place of ambassadors as they are limited in his access and recognition.
“This inexplicable failure of this government to appoint ambassadors has affected the quality of our engagement and relationships with the countries hosting our missions all over the world, and if the government does not act fast to remedy this situation other countries may also start to downgrade their representation in Nigeria to the level charge de affairs as a form of protest at a time that Nigeria needs to put her best foot forward in pursuit of economic diplomacy, ” the statement read in part.
ADC noted that “while countries across the world are busy forming alliances, negotiating trade deals, and securing investment agreements for their nations, Nigeria is not in the room, because we have no high-level diplomatic representation in our missions across the world. While the rest of Africa asserts its presence in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, Nigeria is stuck in neutral, unable even to introduce ourselves.
“While the Tinubu administration takes its sweet time to decide which cronies to reward with ambassadorial postings, Nigerians abroad, from our students to our workers and other professionals, are left to suffer all manners of indignity”.
According to the party, Nigeria’s consular services have become even weaker, the morale among foreign service professionals is at it lowest, and the diplomatic missions have become sorry symbol of a country that no longer takes itself seriously.
It further noted that the public reaction of the Tinubu administration to the reported United States government’s request for Nigeria to receive Venezuelan deportees is a major indication of the administration’s diplomatic incompetence which could have been avoided if it had an ambassador in Washington.
While the ADC is inclined to support the government’s position on the matter, it was appalled that the foreign affairs minister could so recklessly express Nigeria’s position on prime-time TV show. It said that such a sensitive diplomatic communications with an important and powerful partner like the United States could have been handled with greater discretion.
The coalition party therefore urged President Tinubu to urgently appoint ambassadors to save Nigeria from further foreign policy embarrassment.