Mixed reactions have trailed President Buhari’s selection of an indigene of Abonnema local government area of Rivers State, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe, as an ambassadorial nominee for Ondo State.

Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe’s name was included under Ondo State on an ambassadorial list announced by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday.

The nominee is the daughter of the late F.I Ajumogobia, a former Chief of Mission at UNESCO who died in the ADC flight 086 crash en route Lagos from Port Harcourt on November 7, 1996.

Controversy about the selection ensued from the state of origin of Nimi, who is married to Yinka Akinkugbe from Ondo State and are blessed with three children.

Countering the nomination, Ondo state Chairman, Ondo Youth Coalition, Ademario Emmanuel, said the state has prominent persons who could take up the appointment, Punch reports.

Emmanuel, who is also the National President, Youth Advancement Initiative, noted that the appointment would not stand.

He stressed that;

“The person that was nominated is not from Ondo State. We are doing more research to know those behind the recommendation of that appointment and we will send a letter to the Presidency and the governor. Ondo State cannot be short-changed and manipulated by some greedy set of persons because of power.“

Also speaking against the appointment, the President of Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organisation of Nigeria, Eric Oluwole, called on President Buhari to reverse the nomination within 48 hours.

However, the lawmaker representing Ondo-Central senatorial district, Senator Patrick Akinyelure, said there was nothing wrong with the appointment of Mrs. Akinkugbe as long as the governor supports her.

Akinyelure opined that since the nominee is legally married to an indigene of Ondo State and had given birth to ‘Ondo children’ she was qualified to represent the state.

Many other Nigerians have taken to Twitter to react the nomination of Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe and the controversy surrounding it.

Nimi Akinkugbe is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bestman Games Ltd, a leading African games company based in Lagos.

The company is the African distributor of customised editions of Hasbro games for 48 African countries, producers of Monopoly board game.

The ambassadorial nominee, who is a renowned columnist, has over 23 years of experience in the banking sector having worked at Stanbic IBTC, Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank where she is currently a non-executive director.

Putting all sides into consideration, what are your thoughts?

https://www.mojidelano.com/2020/07/mixed-reactions-trail-buharis-nomination-of-rivers-indigene-nimi-akinkugbe-as-ondo-ambassador/

Cc Seun Lalasticlala