Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the ambassadorial nomination list currently before the Senate, alleging that its composition violates the Federal Character principle prescribed by the 1999 Constitution.
Recall that the Senate received the lists of career and non-career ambassadorial nominees from President Tinubu on Thursday, which were referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening.
However, Ndume, in a statement on Saturday, alleged that the distribution of nominees was “lopsided” and failed to reflect Nigeria’s diversity as required under Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
He said a breakdown of the nominees by geopolitical zones shows that some zones have been marginalised, including the North East.
According to him, some states have as many as three or four nominees, others have none, including Gombe State.
Ndume said while Yobe’s only nominee, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, passed away in July, the entire North East secured only seven slots.
The former senate leader noted that the imbalance contravenes the Constitution, which mandates that appointments into federal institutions must reflect Nigeria’s federal character in order to promote national unity and prevent dominance by a few states or ethnic groups.
“At this critical time in the life of his administration, President Tinubu must avoid decisions that could fuel ethnic tension or breed distrust.
“I appeal to him to withdraw the list and present a fresh set of nominees that align with the spirit of the Constitution.
“As a cosmopolitan leader, the President should ensure that all states and geopolitical zones are fairly represented to strengthen national cohesion and public confidence in his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness,” he added.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
Latest posts by Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent) (see all)
- Benin Republic Coup Update, Situation Under Control-Interior Minister - December 7, 2025
- Senator Ndume Urges President Tinubu To Withdraw Ambassadorial Lists - December 7, 2025
- Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria To Embark On Naked Protest - December 7, 2025
previous
Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria To Embark On Naked Protest
next