A former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joe Keshi, has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s new ambassadorial nominees, saying several individuals on the list are not only unqualified but “should be cooling their heels in prison.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, December 1, Keshi said while a few of the President’s picks were competent, most of the non‑career nominees lacked credibility and had no business representing Nigeria abroad.
“I’m comfortable with some names on the list, but the truth of the matter is that the bulk of the people on the non‑career list is a bit disturbing. Are these the kind of people we want to represent Nigeria?” he asked.
“You have people who, if justice had prevailed and if this country had been run properly, and the rules and the rules of the game are obeyed, actually should be cooling their heels in the walls of the prison and not being sent out as ambassadors,” Keshi said.
The veteran diplomat and former Nigerian Consul‑General in Atlanta accused the government of rewarding failed politicians for partisan reasons rather than merit.
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“You have people who have governed their states. They were absolute failures. They showed no leadership when they led their states, and the governors who took over from them are struggling to repair the damage they’ve done to their states,” he said.
“Those are the kind of people being rewarded, either because they have helped you to destroy other political parties, and the rest of it,” he added.
Keshi argued that the ongoing sidelining of career diplomats in ambassadorial appointments has demoralised seasoned professionals within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Keshi’s criticism comes days after President Tinubu forwarded 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
The list which sparked widespread controversy included former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, former minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri.