Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Eniola Ajayi has criticised those attacking President Bola Tinubu over his nomination of Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode and other political figures in the newly released ambassadorial list.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television from 1:05, Ajayi said the outrage was misplaced and failed to acknowledge how diplomatic appointments work across the world.
Ajayi stressed that the president holds the constitutional authority to select individuals he trusts to represent him in foreign missions, insisting that political affiliation or public perception should not invalidate a nominee’s capacity to serve. According to her, the role of an ambassador is first an extension of the presidency before it becomes a representation of the entire nation.
Backing her point with clarity, she said, “The first thing that everybody has to understand is that the president has the right to choose the people that will represent him abroad. They first of all represent the president before they now represent the larger community called the nation Nigeria.”
She noted that this principle is neither new nor unusual, recalling that past administrations also appointed individuals based on political confidence and demonstrated loyalty. Ajayi argued that what truly matters is whether the nominees can effectively protect Nigeria’s interests, engage diplomatically and project the nation’s image positively on the global stage.
Responding to critics who insist that technocrats or career diplomats should dominate such lists, Ajayi explained that diplomatic missions require a mix of professionals, political appointees and individuals with diverse experiences. She said the focus should be on competence rather than partisan sentiments or online outrage.
Ajayi further cautioned Nigerians against dismissing nominees solely because of their political visibility, pointing out that international diplomacy often benefits from individuals who understand both local political dynamics and Nigeria’s global positioning. View, More,
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