Tinubu moves to replace Buhari’s last-minute appointees

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Saturday said the President, Bola Tinubu, had directed the recall of all ambassadors.

The minister, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Al-Kashim Abdul-Kadir, said the directive applied to all career and non-career ambassadors, noting that the envoys were expected to return to the country by October 31, 2013.

It was gathered that 41 non-career and 42 career ambassadors are expected to return to the country. Meanwhile, information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Nigeria has a total of 109 Missions, 76 Embassies, 22 High Commissions and 11 Consulates.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in January, 2021 approved the posting of 95 ambassadors, comprising 43 career and 52 non-career. Prior to the approval, the Senate ratified their nomination in 2020.

On February 16, 2021, however, Buhari inducted the ambassadors, as he charged them to protect Nigerians in their respective countries and represent the country with dedication and pride. The former President also charged them to be guided by the nine priority areas guiding the country’s foreign policy, which include health, fight against corruption, transportation, security and education.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, was recalled. But while clarifying the directive on Saturday, the minister said the action was not a witch-hunt and that it applied to all career and non-career ambassadors.

The statement noted, “Sequel to the enquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed that all career ambassadors and non career ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Buhari appointees’ fate

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the President may nullify more of the last-minute appointments made by Buhari before he left office.

Sources familiar with the matter told our correspondent that plans were underway to replace some of the appointees appointed by the previous administration.

Though our correspondent could not get the total number of appointments to be nullified, the highly placed source noted that the move might affect the last-minute appointments by Buhari’s ministers and heads of agencies.

The source said, “Some of the last-minute appointments by some ex-ministers will be nullified. It will be gradual, so I can’t exactly tell you the number of those who will be affected. As you know, some of them were done in a hurry. The appointments are being reviewed. I can confirm that to you.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s enquiries on the matter as of the time of filing this report.