President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent list of 32 ambassadorial nominees, sent to the Senate for confirmation, has stirred conversations across political, ethnic, and religious circles. Muslim News investigation reveals that only 13 of the nominees are Muslims, representing 40.63% of the total.
Over the weekend, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released the list of 32 ambassadorial nominees, sparking reactions from Nigerians across political, religious and ethnic divide.
Below is the list of the 32 ambassador-designate nominees forwarded by the President to the Senate for confirmation.
Non-Career Ambassadors (17 nominees): ¹
1. Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
2. Reno Omokri (Delta)
3. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi) – MUSLIM
4. Erelu Bisi Angela Adebayo (Ekiti)
5. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)
6. Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina) – MUSLIM
7. Yakubu N. Gambo (Plateau) – MUSLIM
8. Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau)
9. Otunba Femi Pedro (Lagos)
10. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun)
11. Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
12. Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) – MUSLIM
13. Lola Akande (Lagos)
14. Grace Bent (Adamawa)
15. Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
16. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)
17. Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue)
Career Ambassadors (15 nominees): ²
1. Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)
2. Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba) – MUSLIM
3. Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa) – MUSLIM
4. Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi) – MUSLIM
5. Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)
6. Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)
7. Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun)
8. Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo)
9. Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo)
10. Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger) – MUSLIM
11. Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina) – MUSLIM
12. Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno) – MUSLIM
13. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna) – MUSLIM
14. Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara) – MUSLIM
15. Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun) – MUSLIM
Here’s a polished version for clarity and impact:
Analysis:
A Muslim News investigation reveals that only 13 out of the 32 ambassadorial nominees are Muslims, making up 40.63% of the total list. Among them, Non-Career Ambassador Muslim nominees constitute 15.63%, while Career Ambassador Muslim nominees represent 25.00%.
Significantly, just two Muslims are from the Southwest region: Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun), and Fatima Florence, wife of late former Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, who embraced Islam.
For many Muslims, the list has sparked mixed reactions, with concerns raised over the continued marginalization of Muslims, particularly in the Southwest despite the administration being led by a Muslim president.
Meaning:
1. Non-Career Ambassadors are political appointees who are not part of the foreign service. They are often chosen based on political loyalty, influence, or other considerations, and may not have prior diplomatic training or experience.
2. Career Ambassadors are professional diplomats who rose through the ranks of the foreign service. They are trained, experienced, and usually appointed based on merit, service years, and expertise in international relations.
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