The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s list of ambassadorial nominees, describing it as “scandalous” and “reflective of presidential values.”
The party expressed outrage over the inclusion of individuals it termed “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials” whose integrity deficits and anti-democratic tendencies are widely perceived both locally and internationally.
The condemnation comes in a statement released on Saturday by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP.
According to the statement, “This development is not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous.”
The party noted that while Nigerians are appalled by the nominations, the move was unsurprising given the administration’s history.
“A nominee is a clear and direct reflection of the values and estimation of the nominator. By making these nominations, the President has shown Nigerians that these are the best people he has to represent our country,” the statement read.
The PDP also singled out Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for criticism.
“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system…This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable,” the party added.
The opposition party warned that sending ambassadors with “tainted political profiles” would harm Nigeria’s global image.
“The respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors,” the statement said.
Concluding the release, the PDP demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the list and renominate individuals “with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”
