Social Listening 3 December 2025

1. Adverse reactions cloud ambassador nominations

Reactions to President Bola Tinubu’s latest list of ambassadorial nominees have been predominantly critical, with strong opposition from political parties, former diplomats, and the Nigerian public.

The opposition PDP said it “strongly condemns” the list. PDP described the list as “scandalous” and a reward for individuals with “integrity deficits”. The nomination of ex-INEC chairman Yakubu is a “skewed reward system” for the 2023 election.

Similarly, the opposition ADC also “strongly condemns” the list, describing it as a “settlement of political IOUs”; Yakubu’s nomination blurs the lines between umpires and players, thus damaging INEC’s credibility.

Ex-Diplomat Mr Joe Keshi was highly critical, stating that some nominees “should be… in prison”. He argued that the list sidelines career foreign service officers, demoralising the diplomatic corps.

The response was extremely negative on social media. Nominations reward “criminality,” “sycophants,” and failed politicians; they are regarded as “political patronage.”

The ruling APC firmly defended the list, asserting that the selections are based on “merit, national interest, and Nigeria’s diplomatic needs”. APC stated the attacks come from a “fractured” opposition.

Main Themes of the Criticism

The criticism focuses on three main issues:

Reward for Political Loyalty versus Merit: Critics argue that the list prioritises political patronage over competence. Former Permanent Secretary Joe Keshi lamented that the list sidelines trained career diplomats, leaving them “bitter” and “demoralised”. Public commentators and opposition parties describe it as a “settlement list of political IOUs”.

Questionable integrity of certain nominees: Several high-profile nominees are at the centre of controversy.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu: His nomination as a non-career ambassador, soon after chairing the contentious 2023 general elections, is the most criticised. Opponents see it as a reward that undermines INEC’s independence and sets a dangerous precedent.

Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode: Their inclusion is viewed as a reward for politically motivated supporters. A Delta State group called Omokri “deeply controversial” and “unfit for diplomacy”, while others criticise Fani-Kayode for divisive rhetoric.

Impact on Nigeria’s Diplomatic Image: There is widespread concern that appointing politically controversial figures will harm Nigeria’s international reputation. The PDP stated that “appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles… is a setup for a diplomatic all-time low”.

Read also: ADC berates Tinubu’s ambassadorial list, says Yakubu’s nomination, stain on INEC’s credibility

2. On importing dairy from Uganda, with fewer cattle than in Nigeria.

Today, I came across a TikTok video stating that Uganda has signed a deal to export 200,000 tonnes of powdered milk to Nigeria. I was shocked — so I decided to do some research.

Here’s what I found:

UGANDA — The country exporting milk to us – About 14.5 million cattle. – Produces 3.8–3.9 billion litres of milk per year. – Has modern dairy farms, factories, cold chains, and export systems. – Earns hundreds of millions of dollars yearly from dairy. – Just signed a $1 billion milk export deal with Nigeria.

Now look at us…

NIGERIA — The country that is buying milk. – We have 20–21 million cattle, making it one of the largest herds in Africa. – Yet, we produce only 600–700 thousand tonnes of milk annually. – But we consume 1.6–1.7 million tonnes. – Meaning we import around 60% of what we drink. – And spend over $1.5 billion every year importing milk and dairy. – Our cows produce just 0.5–1.5 litres per day — because we’re still operating with traditional systems from a century ago.

When you see these numbers together, it becomes distressing. How does a country with more cattle end up importing milk from a country with fewer cattle?

It’s simple: Systems, leadership, and priorities.

This is not a Fulani problem. This is not a tribal issue. This is not a cultural matter.

This is a Nigerian economic failure — one that has gone on for decades. We had the chance to: • Modernise our livestock system • Invest in dairy processing • Build cold-chain infrastructure • Support local producers • Turn Nigeria into a dairy exporter

…but instead, we let the industry decline.

And today, the consequences are everywhere: – Rising food prices – Weak local production – Increased imports – Wasted economic potential – And a worsening security crisis tied to rural poverty and competition for land

Let’s say the truth clearly: If Nigeria invested even a fraction of the $1.5 billion we spend on milk imports each year into modernising our livestock system, this country would be exporting dairy instead of importing it. Instead, we are here negotiating milk deals with countries that have fewer cows but better systems.

This is not just an economic issue — it’s a national emergency.

It affects security. It affects poverty. It affects employment. It affects food supply. It affects our global standing.

And honestly, it’s disappointing that we keep repeating the same cycle while other African nations move forward with clarity and strategy.

– We have the cows – We have the land – We’ve the population – We’ve the demand What we don’t have is the system: “And that’s the real tragedy!”

3. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s Ambassadorial Nomination: A Step Too Soon, Too Close, and Too Damaging

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of INEC, for an ambassadorial position—barely two years after he supervised the very election that brought this administration to power.

Nigeria’s democracy is already fragile. Perception matters as much as process. Even where no explicit “cool-off” period is stipulated in law, some roles carry a clear moral obligation. The head of an electoral umpire sits at the top of that list.

This nomination may be legal, but it is profoundly wrong.

Why It Violates the Spirit of Democratic Ethics:

i. Erosion of public trust. A referee cannot finish a match today and join the winning team tomorrow. Even if nothing improper occurred, the optics alone damage confidence in our electoral system.

ii. ⁠Democratic institutions rely on credibility, not convenience. INEC’s legitimacy is rooted in the perception of neutrality. When the man who oversaw an election is rewarded by its beneficiary so quickly, it reinforces suspicions that the process was compromised.

iii. Timing magnifies the problem. Nigerians have seen former INEC officers enter government before—but never this soon, and never directly into the government whose election they conducted. This immediacy turns what might have been a normal career move into a troubling political transaction.

iv. It sets a dangerous precedent. Future INEC chairpersons may begin to view elections as pathways to political appointments. At that point, neutrality is dead.

v. ⁠It undermines the sacrifices of millions who demand credible elections. Citizens queued in the sun, faced insecurity, and trusted the system. This nomination feels like an affirmation that their trust was misplaced.

Why Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Should Decline the Appointment

1.⁠ ⁠To protect his own legacy. His name is already contested in the public square. Accepting this posting confirms the worst suspicions. Declining it could help recover part of his standing.

2.⁠ ⁠To defend the integrity of the institution he once led. INEC cannot become a recruitment pipeline for the ruling party. He owes INEC that much.

3.⁠ ⁠To show that leadership still carries a moral dimension. Public office is not just about what is permissible; it is about what is proper. Declining the appointment would send a powerful message that ethical boundaries still matter.

4.⁠ ⁠To strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. Nigeria needs a culture where public officials willingly place national trust above personal gain. This is one such moment.

A Final Word

Nigerians are not naïve. They know the nature of their elections. But this nomination is unusually bold—almost mocking the public’s demand for cleaner electoral processes. It rubs salt in an open wound.

If Nigeria is to rebuild confidence in its institutions, actions like this must be resisted, questioned, and repudiated.

Prof. Yakubu still has one honourable option: decline the appointment.

Mohammed K Santuraki FCIoD, FNIM

Socio-Political

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