‘Reward system for political jobbers’ – HURIWA slams Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly released list of ambassadorial nominees, describing the selection as both “unfortunate” and “disgraceful.”

HURIWA faulted several individuals on the list, labeling them as sycophants and politically compromised figures who, in its view, lack integrity, ethical grounding and a sense of public duty.

President Tinubu had forwarded 32 names to the Senate for confirmation over the weekend, following an earlier submission of three nominees.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organisation said it was troubling that the President spent two and a half years of his four-year tenure deciding on diplomatic postings, only to choose “alleged internally displaced politicians, sycophants and persons who are deeply ethically challenged.”

The group argued that “it was immoral and despicable that President Tinubu has turned the ambassadorial positions as the jobs for the boys or as compensation for dubious politicians who sabotaged their own political party in the 2023 poll to advance the political interest of the the current president who ran against such formidable opponents like Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar a former Vice president who was Presidential flagbeaerer of the PDP.”

It further alleged that Femi Fani-Kayode and especially Reno Omokri were rewarded for “always pouring insults on Peter Obi and for reportedly spreading total falsehoods or half truths to attempt to undermine the integrity and credibility of the former Anambra governor.”

HURIWA singled out Omokri, noting that he had previously attacked then-candidate Tinubu with “unprintable names” before later backing down.

The group also criticised the nomination of wives of former governors, arguing that their inclusion was based solely on their marital connections rather than merit or any demonstrated diplomatic competence.

“Most of these political jobbers appointed as ambassadors are not patriotic citizens and can’t even recite the National Anthem. The National Assembly unfortunately is populated by executive boot lickers and legislative sycophants of tje president and so aren’t independent enough to conduct a thorough and profoundly strategic screening of these sycophants and internally displaced politicians picked as ambassadors,” the statement added.