Senate Approves Yakubu, Fani-Kayode, Omokri for Ambassadorial Posts

President Bola Tinubu’s 64 ambassadorial candidates were approved by the Senate on Thursday, including former presidential aide Reno Omokri and former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode.

The confirmation came after the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs reviewed and approved a report stating that every nominee had been vetted and deemed qualified for the position.

The exercise took place 48 hours after three non-career ambassadorial nominees were confirmed by the upper chamber: Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun State). This increased the overall number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.

Former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Advisor on New Media Reno Omokri, former presidential assistant Ita Enang, and former senator Grace Bent were among those cleared on Thursday.

Others include Mahmood Yakubu, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the former governor of Enugu State; and Okezie Ikpeazu, the former governor of Abia State.

Thirty non-career ambassadors and high commissioners and thirty career ambassadors and high commissioners make up the total confirmed nominations.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), presented the committee’s findings and stated that all of the nominees were deemed deserving based on their credentials, experience, and behavior and that none had petitions against them.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, thanked the appointees and asked them to constructively represent Nigeria in their positions.

The confirmation was made a few days after the Senate rejected social media rumors that some nominees, notably Fani-Kayode and Omokri, had been the target of petitions.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate spokesperson, insisted that the screening process comprised in-depth interaction with the nominees rather than a simple “take a bow and go” procedure and stated that neither a formal complaint nor a petition had been received by the upper chamber.

“I am telling you that we did not receive petitions from any individuals, organizations, or legal entities,” he declared. Not even from any renegade, illegal, or nameless element. No nominee was the subject of a petition.

In an attempt to realign Nigeria’s overseas embassies and fill long-vacant diplomatic positions, Tinubu sent the Senate an extended list of 65 ambassadorial nominees on December 4.

The transmission came months after the recall of all Nigerian envoys in 2023, which sparked discussion over Nigeria’s diplomatic presence overseas.

In accordance with Nigeria’s foreign policy aims, the confirmed ambassadors are now anticipated to be sent to important world capitals and international organizations.