Outrage in Abia over Tinubu’s Nomination of Enebechi as Career Ambassador

 

Stakeholders in Abia State have faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of Mrs. Monica Okechukwu Enebechi as a career ambassador representing the state, insisting the diplomat is neither an indigene nor qualified to fill the Abia slot.

The protest followed the release of 32 additional ambassadorial nominees—15 career and 17 non-career—forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. The list was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Enebechi, a serving career officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is currently posted to the Nigerian Embassy in Rome. She previously served as Minister/Economic at Nigeria’s Embassy in Manila, Philippines.

While her credentials were not contested, Abia stakeholders argue that her state attribution is incorrect and could jeopardise future opportunities for genuine career diplomats from Abia.

An elder statesman who spoke to The Journalists insisted that the nominee does not hail from Abia.
“Monica Okechukwu Enebechi is from Anambra State and married to an indigene of Enugu State,” he said.

He warned that allowing the error to stand could deny deserving Abia-born career officers the chance to attain ambassadorial positions after years of service.

The non-career category from Abia includes former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu.

Career ambassadors typically rise through the ranks of the Foreign Service via examinations and postings, while non-career ambassadors are appointed from outside the diplomatic cadre, often for political or strategic considerations.

President Tinubu, in his letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urged the Senate to fast-track their screening.

The list of nominees includes former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and multiple former governors and public officials.

Others on the career list include Yakubu Nyaku Danladi, Maimuna Ibrahim Besto, Musa Musa Abubakar, Syndoph Paebi Endoni, Chima Geoffrey Lioma David, Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim, Abimbola Samuel Reuben, Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah, Hamza Mohammed Salau, Shehu Barde, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno, Muhammad Saidu Dahiru, Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari and Wahab Adekola Akande.

The nominees are to be deployed to missions in China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya and various multilateral organisations including the UN, UNESCO and the African Union.

Earlier, Tinubu had nominated Ambassador Ayodele Oke to head Nigeria’s mission in the U.S., Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu to France and retired Colonel Kayode Are to the United Kingdom.