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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has charged President Bola Tinubu to appoint ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions immediately, saying junior diplomats cannot represent the country.
The ADC, in a statement by its interim spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday, warned that President Tinubu’s failure to appoint ambassadors will have disastrous consequences for the country’s foreign relations and make life more difficult for Nigerians.
The party noted that this is the longest the country has gone without “duly accredited ambassadors in any of its foreign missions” and warned that if the situation persists other countries will start to downgrade Nigeria and the citizens will bear the brunt.
It argued that the failure of the present administration to appoint ambassadors, two years into its four years tenure, is reflection of the scale of its ambition and alleged lack of “understanding of what it takes to govern an important country like Nigeria.”
The ADC stated that a recent consequence of the vacuum created by the absence of duly accredited ambassadors is the escalation of visa and other consular issues between Nigeria and the United States of America (USA) as well as the United Arab Emirate ( UAE).
It stated: “Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s 109 ambassadors from across the world in 2023, none has been replaced, leaving our country no voice or representation when decisions are taken that affect our country and our citizens.
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“A most recent consequence of this vacuum is the escalation of visa and other consular issues between Nigeria and the duo of the United States and UAE. Yet, the government has failed to demonstrate any urgency to remedy this embarrassing situation. Junior diplomats or charge de affair cannot take the place of ambassadors as they are limited in his access and recognition.
“This inexplicable failure of this government to appoint ambassadors has affected the quality of our engagement and relationships with the countries hosting our missions all over the world, and if the government does not act fast to remedy this situation other countries may also start to downgrade their representation in Nigeria to the level charge de affairs as a form of protest at a time that Nigeria needs to put her best foot forward in pursuit of economic diplomacy.”
The ADC added that is regrettable: “That while countries across the world are busy forming alliances, negotiating trade deals, and securing investment agreements for their nations, Nigeria is not in the room, because we have no high-level diplomatic representation in our missions across the world. While the rest of Africa asserts its presence in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, Nigeria is stuck in neutral, unable even to introduce ourselves.
“While the Tinubu administration takes its sweet time to decide which cronies to reward with ambassadorial postings, Nigerians abroad, from our students to our workers and other professionals, are left to suffer all manners of indignity.
All over the world, Nigeria’s consular services have become even weaker, the morale among foreign service professionals is at its lowest, and our diplomatic missions have become a sorry symbol of a country that no longer takes itself seriously.
“The public reaction of the Tinubu administration to the reported United States government’s request to Nigeria to receive Venezuelan deportees is a major indication of the administration’s diplomatic incompetence which could have been avoided if we had an ambassador in Washington.
“While the ADC is inclined to support the government’s position on the matter, we are appalled that the foreign affairs minister could so recklessly express Nigeria’s position on prime-time TV show. Such sensitive diplomatic communications with an important and powerful partner like the United States could have been handled with greater discretion. But then, this is a government that has favoured showiness over thoughtful policies.”
