Some of Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees Should Be in Prison — Ambassador Joe Keshi Blasts FG’s List

Some of Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees Should Be in Prison — Ambassador Joe Keshi Blasts FG’s List

Former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s latest list of ambassadorial nominees, saying several names on the list have no business representing Nigeria and some should actually be in prison.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Morning Brief, Keshi said the list which includes ex-INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri contains individuals who failed as leaders and caused damage” to the states they governed.

According to him:

If justice had prevailed, some of these people should be cooling their heels in prison, not being sent out as ambassadors.

Keshi expressed concern that many of the nominees are non-career politicians who neither represent Nigeria’s best interests nor meet the professional standards expected of diplomats.

He added:

Some of them left their states worse than they met them, and their successors are still struggling to repair the mess they created.

The retired diplomat also accused politicians of hijacking the foreign service, which he said was originally designed to be professional, independent, and globally competitive.

Keshi insisted that career officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs feel betrayed and demoralized after being sidelined:

They have trained, prepared, and served Nigeria for years. Now you’re saying they’re not qualified to represent the country?

He appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that the next batch of nominees includes career diplomats, warning that morale in the ministry has collapsed.

Do you agree with Amb. Joe Keshi? Should political figures take ambassadorial slots meant for trained diplomats?