By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned President Bola Tinubu that his persistent failure to appoint ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions will have disastrous consequences for Nigeria’s foreign relations and make Nigerians suffer abroad.
The ADC, which is a coalition of opposition parties, gave the warning in a statement by the party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Sunday in Abuja.
The party regretfully noted that this is the longest that Nigeria has gone without duly accredited ambassadors in any of its foreign missions.
It noted that if this embarrassing absence is allowed to continue other countries will soon start to downgrade Nigeria and “our people will bear the brunt”.
The ADC observed that the Tinubu administration’s refusal to appoint ambassadors after two years in office reflects the scale of its ambition for the country and it’s utter lack of understanding of what it takes to govern an important country like Nigeria.
The ADC’s statement reads in full: “Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s 109 ambassadors from across the world in 2023, none has been replaced, leaving our country no voice or representation when decisions are taken that affect our country and our citizens.
“A most recent consequences of this vacuum is the escalation of visa and other consular issues between Nigeria and the duo of the United States and UAE.
“Yet, the government has failed to demonstrate any urgency to remedy this embarrassing situation. Junior diplomats or charge de affair cannot take the place of ambassadors as they are limited in his access and recognition.
“This inexplicable absence of representation has affected the quality of our engagement and relationships with the countries hosting our missions all over the world, and if the government does not act fast to remedy this situation other countries may also start to downgrade their representation in Nigeria to the level charge de affairs as a form of protest at a time that Nigeria needs to put her best foot forward in pursuit of economic diplomacy.
“ADC regrets to note that while countries across the world are busy forming alliances, negotiating trade deals, and securing investment agreements for their nations, Nigeria is not in the room, because we have no high-level diplomatic representation in our missions across the world.
“While the rest of Africa asserts its presence in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, Nigeria is stuck in neutral, unable even to introduce ourselves.
“While the Tinubu administration takes its sweet time to decide which cronies to reward with ambassadorial postings, Nigerians abroad, from our students to our workers and other professionals, are left to suffer all manner of indignity. “
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