Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominee falters at Senate screening after failing to name Ekiti senators

…screening of career ambassadors-designate continues

A Senate screening session for ambassadorial nominees took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when one of President Bola Tinubu’s candidates, Emmanuel Adeyemi, failed to name the three senators representing Ekiti State, leaving members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs visibly displeased.

Adeyemi, a deputy director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one of the President’s career nominees from Ekiti, had begun his appearance on a strong note, outlining his foreign service experience in places such as Hong Kong and France, where he earned a doctorate degree.

The tone of the session shifted abruptly when he attempted to acknowledge what he described as “the two senators from my state.”

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He identified Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Yemi Adaramodu but was unable to recall the third senator.

Committee members reminded him that each state has three senators, prompting confusion on his part. Matters worsened when someone from his delegation attempted to search online for the missing name, Cyril Fasuyi, drawing irritation from lawmakers.

Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) criticised the oversight, calling it an unacceptable lapse for someone nominated to represent Nigeria abroad.

“Much as we admit that one man can’t know everything, it is expected that somebody like you, who has been nominated to represent the country as an ambassador, should know details like the three senators from your state.

“It is even important that the people we are presenting at a time the international perception of our country are competent enough to repair our image,” he said.

Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Seriake Dickson supported the concerns raised, while Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Senate Leader Bamidele, appealed for the committee to show mercy.

“Please forgive him. Please let us overlook his mistake and pardon him for not knowing that Ekiti, like other states, has three senators,” Akintunde said, though he also expressed discomfort with the attempt to “Google” the answer.

Adeyemi is one of three nominees from Ekiti State, alongside Erelu Angela Adebayo and Olumilua Oluwayemika.

The committee also screened several other career diplomats, including Ahmed Sulu Gambari, Maimuna Besto, Monica Enebechi, Ahmed Monguno, Kingsley Onaga, Magaji Umar and Aminu Nasir.

There was also an unexpected appearance by Jimoh Ibrahim, a serving senator from Ondo State, who was asked to “take a bow and go” according to parliamentary guidelines.

Tinubu last week transmitted a list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, invoking Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution and urging lawmakers to fast-track their confirmation.

The list comprises a blend of experienced diplomats, such as Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno and Maimuna Ibrahim—and high-profile non-career nominees, including former presidential aide Ita Enang, Ibok-Ete Ibas, ex–Naval Chief, and Abdulrahman Dambazzau, former Army Chief.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with a one-week deadline for completion of the screening exercise.

Wednesday’s session formed part of the second phase of the clearance process.

A smaller set of nominees; Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo), had been screened earlier in the day, with Oke addressing longstanding allegations during his appearance.

The staggered presentations, according to insiders familiar with the process, reflect an ongoing reorganisation of Nigeria’s foreign service as the administration prepares for broad changes across the country’s diplomatic missions.

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