Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has defended the President’s latest ambassadorial nominations, stating that the choices reflect the President’s judgment of what is best for his administration and for Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Oshodi emphasized that appointing political allies to diplomatic positions is a global practice. He noted that presidents and prime ministers across the world routinely nominate trusted figures or individuals with established relationships.
According to him, “Whether it’s Donald Trump sending his friends as ambassadors, or the British government posting Peter Mandelson to Washington despite controversies, it is the nature of the business. I’m not saying we should send people of bad character abroad, but it has to be the discretion and political decision of the president or head of state.”
Oshodi insisted that Nigerians must respect the President’s prerogative, adding that criticisms of the nominees often stem from a misunderstanding of the electoral mandate. He stressed that the President alone carries the responsibility for selecting individuals he believes will advance the country’s diplomatic and administrative goals.
“We voted for a president, and we voted for him to make his decisions. This is the best the President has chosen, and it is the best for the interests and success of his administration,” he said.
He further noted that judgments over whether the nominees are “the best” are subjective, explaining that the true test of the President’s choices will be their performance in office. “Your judgement of what is best is different from mine. He sends his people out to represent his government—whether for economic, security or cultural needs,” Oshodi added.
President Tinubu recently forwarded the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, days after submitting an earlier list of three nominees. The new list includes prominent figures such as former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; and former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that specific diplomatic postings for each nominee will be announced only after Senate confirmation. He also noted that the list includes four female career ambassadors and six female non-career nominees.
