Why I joined ambassadorial screening despite federal character concerns – Ndume

File Photo: Ali Ndume.

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A former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has explained why he participated in the Senate screening of ambassadorial nominees despite raising concerns over an alleged breach of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, had in a statement last week urged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the list of nominees, citing what he described as a violation of the federal character principle in the composition of the list.

He highlighted disparities in the distribution of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none.

“He (Tinubu) should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Ndume had said.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, as reported by Vanguard, the senator explained that his concerns were rooted in the “federal character of Nigeria” to promote national unity and loyalty.

However, Ndume revealed that members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs persuaded him to participate in the screening, with the understanding that his observations would be formally communicated to the President through the committee’s report.

“I still maintain that the list is lopsided. At the committee level, I raised a constitutional order at the meeting, and we agreed that we would continue with the screening, but in our report, we will tell the President that the composition of the remaining list should be balanced to address our concerns about the breach of the federal character principles as enshrined in our Constitution,” Ndume said.

He added that Nigeria’s 109 diplomatic missions could accommodate more equitable representation across states, particularly in non-career ambassadorial appointments.

“We have 109 missions. For the non-career ambassadors, each state should have one to balance it because states like Gombe and Yobe were not captured, while some states have only career ambassadors, which are more or less non-political ambassadors,” he said.

“Each state should have two or three ambassadors, and each state should have at least one career ambassador since we have 109 embassies, which consist of 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates.

“This can accommodate three ambassadors per state, both non-career and career. That will address the issue of lopsidedness and the breach of Section 14(3) of the Constitution. Don’t forget that we have 194 countries in the world.”

The Senate last week screened and confirmed 68 ambassadorial nominees.

Those confirmed include former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; and former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau.

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