IN 1776, Benjamin Franklin the Father of America’s nationalism arrived France as America’s First Ambassador to the then monarchy. As a media owner back home, he helped shaped public opinion in favour of the thirteen colonies taking up arms against their then colonial masters – the United Kingdom.
When he arrived in France, he helped negotiate the vital treaty of alliance in 1778 as well as the treaty of amity and commerce that same year which King Louis XVI’s government helped sign. Also, he was a huge celebrity in France as a Statesman, media mogul, politician and entrepreneur which greatly helped the American cause in their impending rebellion against imperialism.
Thomas Jefferson, nationalist – who wrote the famous America’s Declaration of Independence and the third President of America succeeded Franklin in 1784. He helped push the American cause as the then newly independent State grappled with the complexities of governance.
He witnessed the beginning of the French revolution and left when it started to become the first Secretary of State of the United States in George Washington’s cabinet.
The seed of the future success of America was planted as far back as in the 18th century as the country put her first eleven forward in virtually all walks of life.
It is no surprise that since the end of the second world war in 1945, Uncle Sam has maintained global leadership for an unbroken eighty years against all odds – threats from the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the cold war and now from China.
It is a gargantuan shame that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was largely unprepared for political leadership despite his ‘Emilokan’ assertion during the 2023 presidential campaign. How else do you explain his lack of appointment of ambassadors two years into his administration?
The list that was finally released left much to be desired. He first released three names including that of the discredited former Head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke who was allegedly indicted in a gargantuan financial scandal where millions of dollars allegedly traced to him was discovered in an Ikoyi flat. These three names are penciled down for the lucrative postings in the United States, United Kingdom, and France. How tragic!
The following week, he released an odious list of highly uninspiring names including that of Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ibok Ete-Ibas.
Was this list which puts forward our 10th eleven worth the long wait? Why does the worst of the pack get the cream oof the crop jobs in Nigeria?
Reno Omokri was once a virulent critic of President Bola Tinubu. In the build up to the campaign, he said that he had evidence of his alleged drug running dealings in Chicago, United States and that he had contacted the University of Chicago which said that Tinubu then a presidential candidate forged his certificate. He even organized a rally to harass Tinubu out of London when the latter was there for medical tourism. He later became a turncoat and turned 360 degrees around to start defending Tinubu even more than his spokesmen.
How can Omokri effectively project Nigeria’s image in the global community? Which reasonable man will take him and by extension the so called ‘Giant of Africa’ seriously?
Femi Fani-Kayode was once a fierce critic of Tinubu. He said when he was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that nothing could make him join the All Progressives Congress (APC). He even went as far as saying that Tinubu had halitosis and he was a drug baron whose role in the struggle for democracy was highly exaggerated.
This was the same man that said he had an affair with the current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Nigerians recall the press conference when a journalist innocuously asked him who was bankrolling his media tour and he went ballistic with the infamous ‘Do you know Who I am?’ and thoroughly tongue lashed the hapless journalist.
Even his ex-boss and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said that he lacks character and will sing for you if you gave him food. How can a notoriously short fused man and double talker become a diplomat overnight? How can a man who has metamorphosed into a shameless dog that goes back to eat its vomit be our best global export?
Ibok Ete-Ibas is yet to clear his name for his alleged embezzlement of public funds when he held sway as the sole administrator of Rivers State during the emergency rule. Why the hurry to dispatch him as a diplomat? Is it not sending the wrong signal to investors and the international community that only the worst of the worst represents Nigeria?
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is arguably the worst Governor that Abia State ever produced. He is so unpopular in the state that he lost his senatorial bid even while being the incumbent Governor in 2023.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged that he siphoned billions of naira and his successor, Alex Otti submitted his case file to the anti-graft commission. Isn’t this a cruel mockery of the war against corruption? Why not allow the EFCC do its job of investigating him and allow the courts to clear his name before sending him abroad?
President Tinubu has really insulted our sensibilities with this ambassadorial list and it is high time the truth is told to power.
I stand with Senator Ali Ndume who called for him to immediately withdraw the list. Tinubu should save Nigeria from this international embarrassment. Imagine Mike Arnold already leading a sturdy campaign globally calling for the withdrawal of the name of Reno Omokri.
How embarrassing for a foreigner to clamour for a better deal for Nigerians especially at a time when our green passport’s image is at an all-time low!
Once more, I reiterate the stand of what is known in law as what the reasonable man will say for Tinubu to totally overhaul the list and not make us a laughingstock among the international community.
Enough is Enough! Tinubu please do the right thing and act now.
