Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has come out to defend the President’s latest ambassadorial nominations. He recently insisted that the selections prove Tinubu’s judgment of what is best for his government and Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s programme, Morning Brief, Ademola revealed that political appointments to diplomatic positions have always been a global practice.
According to him, presidents and prime ministers across the globe are known to routinely nominate trusted allies or individuals with long-standing relationships, so BAT is allowed to use his discretion with his appointments.
He stated that Tinubu will not deliberately decide to send people of bad character to represent Nigeria abroad.
“Whether it’s Donald Trump sending his friends as ambassadors, or the British government posting Peter Mandelson to Washington despite controversies, it is the nature of the business.
I’m not saying we should send people of bad character abroad, but it has to be the discretion and political decision of the president or head of state,” he said.
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Ademola further noted that Nigerians must respect the President’s prerogative, stressing that the people questioning the quality of the nominees are simply misunderstanding the electoral mandate.
The presidential aide concluded by saying that BAT alone holds the mandate to decide what is best for Nigeria’s governance.
“We voted for a president, and we voted for him to make his decisions. This is the best the President has chosen, and it is the best for the interests and success of his administration.
Your judgement of what is best is different from mine. He sends his people out to represent his government—whether for economic, security or cultural needs,” he added.
