Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has raised a red flag over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new ambassadorial nominees, urging the President to withdraw the list before Senate confirmation begins.
Ndume said the composition blatantly disregards the Federal Character principle, warning that no administration can afford such imbalance at a time when national unity is already fragile.
A review of the list shows striking disparities: some states enjoy three or four nominees, while Gombe has none. Yobe’s lone nominee, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, passed away in July, leaving the state unrepresented. The Southwest dominates with 15 nominees, followed by the Northwest (13), South-South (12), North Central (10), Southeast (9), and the Northeast trailing with only 7.
The Senate President had read the list on Thursday and referred it to the Foreign Affairs Committee for screening.
But Ndume insisted the arrangement violates Section 14(3) of the Constitution, which demands that federal appointments reflect Nigeria’s diversity and prevent domination by a few states or regions.
“At this sensitive moment in the life of the administration, such missteps could breed tension and deepen distrust,” he cautioned. “President Tinubu is a cosmopolitan leader. He should withdraw the list and send a balanced one that reflects the spirit of the Constitution.”
Ndume to Tinubu: Withdraw Ambassadorial List ‘Skewed Against Nigeria’s Diversity’
