Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has defended the President’s newly announced ambassadorial nominees, saying the list reflects Tinubu’s discretion and vision for his administration.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, December 1, Oshodi explained that appointing political allies to diplomatic positions is not unusual, stressing that it is a global norm among world leaders.
“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,” Oshodi said.
“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.”
He argued that Nigerians must respect the President’s right to choose individuals he trusts, saying such decisions flow directly from the electoral mandate.
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“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.
Oshodi added that questions about the merit of the appointees were subjective, noting that their performance would ultimately determine the wisdom of the President’s choices.
“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,” he explained.
First Daily earlier reported that President Tinubu submitted 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, following an initial list of three.
Names on the list include 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.