Tinubu Ambassadorial Nominees: Ajimobi’s Wife, Fani-Kayode, Omokri, Yakubu Make Envoys List
By: Abudu Olalekan
Tinubu ambassadorial nominees didn’t just drop quietly on some government website. They landed with a thud. Thirty-two names. Old power players, familiar political faces, a few quiet technocrats, and some surprises that got people talking.
It’s here. The list. The names. Everyone’s talking. President Bola Tinubu just dropped 32 names. Ambassador hopefuls. Sent them to the Senate. No delays. Fast.
Two letters went out. One for career diplomats. Another? For political heavyweights. Senate President Godswill Akpabio got them. His team scrambled.
Bayo Onanuga – the president’s info guy – broke the news. Saturday. Short statement. But oh boy, the details? Juicy.
Four women in the career group. Six in the non-career. Balance? Maybe. But let’s be real. Some picks raised eyebrows.
The Political Picks
You know the drill. Familiar faces. Old hands. New roles.
First up: Reno Omokri. Ex-presidential aide. Now Delta’s pick. People whispered. “He’s back.” Then there’s Femi Fani-Kayode. Ex-aviation minister. Now Osun’s man. Controversial? Yes. But Tinubu trusts him.
Wait. There’s more. Fatima Florence Ajimobi. Oyo’s slot. She’s the former first lady. Ajimobi’s wife. Yes, that Ajimobi. Many paused. “Really?”
And Mahmud Yakubu? Former INEC boss. Now Bauchi’s nominee. Neutral guy. Or so they say.
Then the ex-governors. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). Victor Ikpeazu (Abia). Both got nods. Their states cheered. Quietly.
Erelu Angela Adebayo – Ekiti’s ex-first lady – made it too. Along with Professor Nora Daduut, ex-senator. Plateau’s pride.
Lagos? Two slots. Otunba Femi Pedro – ex-deputy governor. And Lola Akande, former commissioner. Power move.
Adamawa’s pick? Grace Bent. Ex-senator. Benue? Paul Adikwu, ex-ambassador to the Holy See.
See the pattern? Experience. Connections. Politics.
Career Diplomats – The Silent Ones
These ones? Pros. No noise. Just work.
Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu. Abia’s choice. Sharp. Quiet. Then Yakubu Danladi from Taraba. And Miamuna Besto – Adamawa’s pick.
Names like Syndoph Endoni (Bayelsa) and Chima Lioma (Ebonyi) flew under radar. Until now.
Ogun got Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim. Ondo? Abimbola Reuben. Edo’s slot? Yvonne Odumah.
Then the veterans. Shehu Barde. Ahmed Monguno. Muhammad Dahiru. All ex-ambassadors. Katsina. Borno. Kaduna. Respect.
Kwara’s pick? Olatunji Gambari. Osun? Wahab Akande. They know the ropes.
What’s Next?
The Senate grinds. Screening. Confirmations. When? Soon.
These nominees won’t just sit in offices. Oh no. They’re headed big leagues. China. India. UAE. Qatar. South Korea. Canada. Mexico. Kenya. South Africa. Big posts. UN missions too. UNESCO. African Union.
But here’s the kicker. Last week? Three names slipped in first. Ayodele Oke (Oyo). Amin Dalhatu (Jigawa). Lateef Are (Ogun). Retired colonel. All three? Fighting for the golden tickets: UK, USA, France. Top tier.
The Buzz
People talked. A lot.
Some cheered. “About time we send strong people.” Others frowned. “Too many old faces.”
Fani-Kayode’s name? Explosive. Omokri’s return? Shocking. Ajimobi’s wife? Lagos whispered all weekend.
Is this Tinubu’s way to reward loyalty? Maybe. Balance regions? Try. Or just pack the diplo corps with trusted hands?
The Senate will ask questions. Hard ones.
“Any conflicts?”
“Why them?”
“What about merit?”
We’ll see.
What It Means
Diplomacy isn’t just handshakes. It’s power. Influence. Backroom deals. These 32? They’ll shape Nigeria’s image. Abroad. At big tables.
Precious Seed community suffered evictions last week. Now this. Life goes on. Politics rolls.
For now, the list is out. Phones ring. Speculation grows.
Who’s happy? The nominees. Who’s nervous? The Senate. Who’s watching? Everyone.
Final Note
Want updates? Follow Reportersroom. We track it all. No fluff.
Check full details: reportersroom.ng/ambassador-list
