India, Other Nations Hesitate Over Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees Amid Tenure Concerns

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Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined to accept certain ambassadorial nominees recently appointed by Bola Tinubu, citing diplomatic policies that discourage receiving envoys from governments with less than two years left in office.

Senior officials in the Presidency and Nigeria’s foreign service disclosed that India maintains a standing rule against accepting ambassadors from administrations nearing the end of their tenure.

One of the nominees affected by the development is career diplomat Muhammad Dahiru, who had been designated to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to New Delhi.

The situation confirms earlier indications that some of Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees could face rejection from host countries due to the limited time remaining in the current administration.

Sources familiar with the matter said Nigeria had begun receiving diplomatic signals from New Delhi and possibly other capitals indicating reluctance to grant agrément for some of the nominees.

Agrément is the formal approval given by a host nation before a diplomat appointed by another country can assume office. Without this approval, the ambassador cannot officially take up the position.

A Presidency official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue, said India had already communicated its stance informally.

According to the official, the hesitation from some countries is not necessarily about the individuals nominated but rather the uncertainty surrounding the remaining tenure of the current government.

The source explained that some governments may see the Tinubu administration as approaching the end of its term and fear that a change of government after the next election could lead to the recall of newly appointed envoys.

The official added that certain countries have diplomatic conventions that make it difficult to accept ambassadors from administrations with only a short time left in office, noting that India is one of the nations known to follow such a policy.

Government Hopes for Diplomatic Flexibility

Another senior foreign service official confirmed India’s policy but expressed optimism that Nigeria could leverage its longstanding diplomatic relationship with the Asian nation to secure an exception.

The official also suggested that some foreign governments might consider Nigeria’s political climate before making final decisions, including the possibility that the current ruling party could retain power in the next election.

While India is currently the only country confirmed to have such a policy affecting Nigeria’s nominees, officials say other countries may follow similar diplomatic practices depending on their own conventions.

Training Yet to Begin

Meanwhile, another official revealed that although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has secured funds for the mandatory induction programme for the ambassadors-designate, a date for the training has not yet been fixed.

President Tinubu recently approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various countries and international organisations, including the United Nations.

Among those nominated are former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode (posted to Germany), presidential aide Reno Omokri (Mexico), former Katsina State governor Abdulrahman Dambazzau (China), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who was nominated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

So far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has secured agrément from only two countries the United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Aminu Dalhatu and France for Ambassador Ayodele Oke leaving the status of the remaining nominees uncertain.