Some Nominees On Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List Should Be In Prison — Joe Keshi

Former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joe Keshi, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s latest ambassadorial list, claiming that some of the nominees lack the character and track record required to represent Nigeria abroad. He made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Keshi said he was troubled by the dominance of non-career nominees on the list and argued that several of them “should have no business being in the diplomatic service by any standard.” According to him, a few individuals included in the list would, in a properly functioning system, “be cooling their heels in the walls of the prison rather than being sent out as ambassadors.”

Concerns Over Integrity, Political Reward System

Keshi accused the government of rewarding individuals who performed poorly in previous political roles. He pointed to former governors who, in his view, failed their states and left successors struggling to repair the damage they “inflicted through weak leadership.” He suggested that some names were selected as political compensation for helping the administration weaken rival parties ahead of the last elections.

Although he did not mention specific nominees, Keshi said his criticism reflects broader dissatisfaction among career diplomats who feel sidelined by what they consider a politicised nomination process.

Keshi also referenced what he described as a “conspiracy” surrounding the removal of former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director General, Ayo Oke, though he did not elaborate further on the issue.

Foreign Affairs Officials ‘Bitter’ Over Exclusion

Beyond the concerns about political patronage, Keshi said resentment is growing within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because senior officials who have spent decades in service were completely excluded from the newly released list.

“These officers are demoralised,” he said. “Tomorrow, somebody will accuse them of being unpatriotic, but the truth is that they are disappointed after being prepared. They have gone through training, and at the point where they are supposed to be appointed, you are saying they are not qualified. They feel Nigeria has done this to them.”

Expelled South African Ambassador Returns Home, Expresses No Regrets

Keshi appealed directly to the President, urging him to ensure that any forthcoming list is dominated entirely by career diplomats. He insisted that Nigeria cannot afford to send anyone other than its best-trained officers to represent the country, especially at a time when global diplomacy requires competence, professionalism, and strategic experience.

He recalled that the early architects of Nigeria’s foreign service, including the country’s first Prime Minister, set clear standards for an independent and highly skilled diplomatic corps capable of competing with peers around the world. He said those values were upheld for decades before political interference began to erode the system.

Tinubu on Saturday released a new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees, including former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu; former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu; former minister Femi Fani-Kayode; and former presidential aide Reno Omokri. Earlier, the President had forwarded the names of Ayo Oke, Amin Dalhatu, and Colonel Lateef Are (retd.) to the Senate for confirmation.

The nominations have triggered nationwide debate, with political parties, analysts and diplomats expressing sharply divided views on the choices.