African Democratic Congress denounces Tinubu for diplomatic appointments

The African Democratic Congress has lambasted the President Bola Tinubu administration for unveiling merely 65 of Nigeria's 109 ambassadorial postings, deeming this move a diplomatic faux pas that leaves the country vulnerable to humiliation and underscores the government's ineptitude in navigating international relations.

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In a statement issued on Friday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi pointed out that publicly disclosing ambassadorial postings before securing the requisite agrément from host countries, as stipulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, jeopardizes Nigeria's diplomatic credibility.

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Following weeks of anticipation, President Tinubu assigned 65 career and non-career ambassadors to various countries worldwide on Friday, prompting the ADC to query the government's silence on the remaining 44 missions lacking envoys.

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The ADC asserted that the government's actions demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of diplomatic protocol, stating, "After nearly three years in office, and three months after the Senate confirmation of the ambassadors, today's announcement by the State House puts the cart before the horse and showcases the Tinubu administration's inability to grasp the basic protocol of diplomatic relations.

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Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, specifically Article 4, a sending state must first obtain the consent, known as agrément, of the receiving state before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission, highlighting the importance of securing agrément through diplomatic channels.

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By announcing appointments and then requesting consent, the government reveals its lack of understanding of diplomatic procedures, rendering the process absurd, particularly given the receiving country's right to accept or reject a nomination after conducting due diligence.

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The ADC noted that the government's actions are reminiscent of past blunders, including the announcement of postings to the UK, the United States, and France last year, as well as sending an unscreened ambassador to Turkey, prompting expectations that the government would learn from its mistakes and adapt.

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According to the ADC, President Tinubu's administration appears more focused on succumbing to political pressure than making informed decisions, prompting questions about the delay in requesting consent for the nominated ambassadors.

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The ADC also expressed concern over the government's silence on the US mission and the incomplete nature of the announcement, highlighting that Nigeria maintains 109 diplomatic missions worldwide, yet only 65 ambassadors have been announced.

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The party questioned the fate of the remaining 44 missions, wondering if these posts would remain vacant indefinitely, potentially diminishing Nigeria's diplomatic presence during a time of rising global uncertainty.

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The Tinubu government has 449 days left in office, and the ADC warned that this administration may be the first in Nigeria's history to be so incompetent that it cannot even appoint ambassadors, which would have severe consequences for the country's global standing.