iDeemlawfulPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withdrawn the nomination of Usman Dakingari, former Kebbi State governor, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, less than 24 hours after the announcement of ambassadorial postings.
In a statement issued late Thursday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu approved the posting of four ambassadors-designate from the over 60 nominees confirmed by the Senate last December.
The initial list named Ambassador Ayodele Oke as ambassador-designate to France, Colonel Lateef Are as ambassador-designate to the United States, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former envoy to South Korea, as High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom, and Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, former governor of Kebbi State, as ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Dakingari’s nomination was announced ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s planned state visit to Turkey scheduled for next week.
MOST READ ARTICLES
However, in a fresh statement released on Friday by the State House, Onanuga clarified that no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.
The updated statement reaffirmed the postings of Are, Oke and Dalhatu, while omitting Dakingari’s appointment, effectively reversing the earlier announcement.
The presidency did not provide any explanation for the sudden change.
Onanuga added that President Tinubu has forwarded official correspondence to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the governments of the three countries of the approved ambassadors-designate, in line with established diplomatic procedures.