President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rescinded the appointment of Usman Dakingari, former governor of Kebbi State, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, less than 24 hours after the initial announcement of ambassadorial postings.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed in a statement on Thursday night that President Tinubu approved the posting of four ambassadors-designate from a list of over 60 nominees confirmed last December.
The initial list included:
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Ambassador Ayodele Oke – Ambassador-designate to France
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Colonel Lateef Are – Ambassador-designate to the United States
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Ambassador Amin Dalhatu – Former envoy to South Korea, as High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom
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Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman – Former Governor of Kebbi State, Ambassador-designate to Turkey
Dakingari’s posting had coincided with President Tinubu’s planned state visit to Turkey next week.
However, in a statement issued Friday, the State House clarified that no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey, while confirming the postings of Oke, Are, and Dalhatu. The statement did not provide an explanation for the withdrawal.
Onanuga added that President Tinubu has sent a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formally notifying the governments of France, the United States, and the United Kingdom of the confirmed ambassadors, following standard diplomatic procedures.
The reported appointment of Emmanuel Ayodele Oke as Nigeria’s Ambassador to France has reignited controversy, reopening unresolved questions around integrity, accountability, and diplomatic standards.
Diplomacy on Trial: Why a Controversial Ikoyi Cash Scandal Is Haunting Nigeria Abroad
Mr Oke was first suspended and later dismissed from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and sacked from the civil service following corruption allegations linked to the 2017 discovery of large sums of cash—$43.3 million, £27,000 and ₦23 million—hidden in a private Ikoyi apartment while he was NIA Director-General.
Although the criminal case was later discontinued, there was no acquittal, and the funds were forfeited to the state—facts that continue to shape public perception.
Diplomatic appointments are guided by international norms, notably the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which underscores trust, credibility, and mutual respect between sending and receiving states.
While the convention does not impose moral tests, host countries retain the absolute right to declare any envoy persona non grata without explanation. In practice, reputation is decisive.
Across Europe and the G7, public integrity is enforced by robust institutions, vigilant media, and active civil society. Advocacy groups in Nigeria and the diaspora say petitions are being prepared to alert host authorities.
They warn that once such facts enter the European public domain, containment is unlikely. In diplomacy, credibility is currency—and where it collapses, recall becomes inevitable.
Many have advised reconsideration from the President to avoid global embarrassment for Nigeria.
Nigerians at home and in the diaspora are urging the Presidency to reconsider the deployment of Emmanuel Ayodele Oke as ambassador to France, warning that it could trigger protests and an embarrassing recall.
Critics argue that appointing a former civil servant dismissed for corruption to represent Nigeria in a G7 nation risks avoidable reputational damage.
They say once the facts gain traction in global media, the fallout could undermine Nigeria’s image and dilute the President’s ongoing efforts to rebuild international confidence and attract foreign investment.
The advice, they insist, is preventive: avoid a controversy that could overshadow diplomatic objectives and harm the country’s standing abroad.
Nigeria’s decision to nominate Kayode Lateef Are as ambassador to the United States is prompting debate in diplomatic circles, as Donald Trump prepares to return to office with a renewed hardline posture on religion-linked violence.
Kayode Are, a Muslim diplomat widely regarded for his professional credentials, is being deployed at a time when Trump has repeatedly criticised what he describes as “Islamic extremism” in Nigeria, citing reports of mass killings of Christians and allegations of religiously motivated violence.
Historically, US administrations have framed Nigeria’s security crisis as complex—driven by terrorism, banditry, land disputes and governance failures—rather than a single religious conflict. But Trump’s political style is more emotive and personalised, and international media speculation suggests the appointment may face perception challenges in Washington.
Analysts say the issue is not competence but optics: diplomacy depends on trust, narrative alignment and political chemistry.
Navigating this terrain will require careful messaging, strategic engagement, and disciplined diplomacy if Nigeria is to protect its image, manage sensitivities, and sustain productive relations with a Trump-led White House.
