Senator Ali Ndume has publicly asked President Bola Tinubu to pull back his latest ambassadorial nomination list, claiming it violates Nigeria’s Federal Character principle and leaves entire states without representation.
According to Linda Ikeji Blog, the former Senate Leader didn’t mince words when he described the nominations as unbalanced and potentially damaging to national unity.
On Thursday, December 4, the Senate received the president’s list of career and non-career ambassador nominees and sent them to the Foreign Affairs Committee for screening.
But Ndume, representing Borno South, immediately raised red flags.
His complaint? Some states got three or four nominees while others were completely ignored. Gombe State, for instance, didn’t get a single nomination.
Meanwhile, Yobe’s only nominee, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, died back in July, leaving the entire North East with just seven slots.
Ndume broke down the nominations by geopolitical zones and found what he calls clear evidence of regional marginalization, particularly against the North East.
He pointed to Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which specifically requires federal appointments to reflect Nigeria’s diversity and prevent any state or ethnic group from dominating.
“At this critical time in his administration, President Tinubu must avoid decisions that could ignite ethnic tension or deepen distrust,” Ndume said.
“I appeal to him to withdraw the list and send a new one that aligns with the spirit of the Constitution.”
Despite his criticism, Ndume acknowledged Tinubu as a “cosmopolitan leader” and expressed confidence that the president would correct the imbalance.
He stressed that fair representation across all states and zones isn’t just a constitutional requirement, it’s essential for national cohesion and public trust in government.
The senator’s concern centers on timing.
With Nigeria facing various ethnic and regional tensions, he believes appointments that appear unfair could fuel existing divisions and undermine confidence in the administration’s commitment to inclusiveness.
The nominations are currently with the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening.
Whether President Tinubu will heed Ndume’s call and withdraw the list remains to be seen, but the senator’s public challenge has already sparked conversations about equity in federal appointments.
For now, states like Gombe are left wondering why they were overlooked entirely while others received multiple slots.
Discover more from ParrotMouth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
