Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described some of President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees as “shocking,” raising concerns over the calibre of Nigerians representing the country abroad.

On November 29, President Tinubu forwarded the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the National Assembly for confirmation, following a previous list of three nominees submitted last week. The list includes notable figures such as Reno Omokri, former presidential aide; Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC chairman; Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-aviation minister; and Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia State.

In a post on X, Obi questioned the competence and integrity of some nominees. “Yes, some of the names being paraded to represent us as ambassadors globally are shocking. But with a leadership that has allowed mediocrity, corruption, and impunity to rise to the top, who else did you expect them to choose?” he said.

Obi also highlighted the ongoing economic hardship and insecurity plaguing Nigerians. “When our people are being killed, our leaders are busy hosting dinners. When children are being snatched from their schools, the political class is celebrating and dancing. When families cannot afford their next meal, those in power are welcoming defectors and exchanging gifts as though Nigeria is not burning. This is not governance. This is not leadership. And this is certainly not the Nigeria we deserve,” he added.

The former Anambra governor shared an encounter with a group of young Nigerians at the Abuja airport who questioned why he had not publicly addressed the nation’s crises. Obi said the suffering in the country had become “a pain one carries silently” and pointed to global perceptions of Nigeria, referencing a previous remark by the U.S. President who called the country a “now disgraced nation.”

Obi concluded that today’s Nigeria is in urgent need of genuine leadership capable of addressing both insecurity and economic hardship.