₦airaland Forum

Press Statement
For Immediate Release
July 20, 2025

ADC to President Tinubu: Junior Diplomats Cannot Represent Nigeria: Appoint Ambassadors Now

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned President Bola Tinubu that his persistent failure to appoint ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions will have disastrous consequences for Nigeria’s foreign relations and make life more difficult for Nigerias.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC regretfully notes that this is the longest that Nigeria has gone without duly accredited ambassadors in any of its foreign missions and if this embarrassing absence is allowed to continue other countries will soon starts to downgrade Nigeria and our people will bear the brunt.

The ADC observes that the Tinubu administration’s refusal to appoint ambassadors after two years in office reflects the scale of its ambition for the country and it’s utter lack of understanding of what it takes to govern an important country like Nigeria.

The full statement reads:
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s 109 ambassadors from across the world in 2023, none has been replaced, leaving our country no voice or representation when decisions are taken that affect our country and our citizens.

A most recent consequences of this vacuum is the escalation of visa and other consular issues between Nigeria and the duo of the United States and UAE. Yet, the government has failed to demonstrate any urgency to remedy this embarrassing situation. Junior diplomats or charge de affair cannot take the place of ambassadors as they are limited in his access and recognition.

This inexplicable failure of this government to appoint ambassadors has affected the quality of our engagement and relationships with the countries hosting our missions all over the world, and if the government does not act fast to remedy this situation other countries may also start to downgrade their representation in Nigeria to the level charge de affairs as a form of protest at a time that Nigeria needs to put her best foot forward in pursuit of economic diplomacy.

ADC regrets to note that while countries across the world are busy forming alliances, negotiating trade deals, and securing investment agreements for their nations, Nigeria is not in the room, because we have no high-level diplomatic representation in our missions across the world. While the rest of Africa asserts its presence in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, Nigeria is stuck in neutral, unable even to introduce ourselves.
While the Tinubu administration takes its sweet time to decide which cronies to reward with ambassadorial postings, Nigerians abroad, from our students to our workers and other professionals, are left to suffer all manners of indignity.
All over the world, Nigeria’s consular services have become even weaker, the morale among foreign service professionals is at it lowest, and our diplomatic missions have become sorry symbol of a country that no longer takes itself seriously.

The public reaction of the Tinubu administration to the reported United States government's request to Nigeria to receive Venezuelan deportees is a major indication of the administration’s diplomatic incompetence which could have been avoided if we had an ambassador in Washington. While the ADC is inclined to support the government’s position on the matter, we are appalled that the foreign affairs minister could so recklessly express Nigeria’s position on prime-time TV show. Such sensitive diplomatic communications with an important and powerful partner like the United States could have been handled with greater discretion. But then, this is a government that has favoured showiness over thoughtful policies.

President Tinubu should appoint ambassadors now to save Nigeria any further foreign policy embarrassment.

END
Signed:
Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary, ADC

ADC’s National publicity secretary needs to be sacked.

The administration of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is doing so well that nothing concrete can be criticized.

Junior Ambassadors cannot represent Nigeria? Can some remind Bolaji that they do for all countries. As a matter of fact, subordinates do for the US at the UN council.

On this matter, I disagree with the ADC. Except, of course, they want a piece of the appointments.

BUhari is no more so the whole of katsina votes will go for Atiku .

Kwankwaso is negotiating with ADC if that sails through then kano votes is following him to ADC.

Tinubu performed woefully in South west in 2023 election.
He lost Lagos and Osun to Peter Obi and Atiku .

South east is no go area for tinubu and he knows it.

South South you and I know that tinubu will fail there . So where will Tinubu get the vote from?

You're banking on rigging ?
Tinubu succeeded to rig because the north made it possible so wetin una wan do this time ?



If he loses at the poll and refuse to step down or try to impose himself through mago mago na there d country go scatter. INEC can’t rig such a glaring victory from ADC. U think Nigerians r fools? It’s definitely gonna start from d north. Jonathan accepted defeat. Tinubu should accept his wen it’s time. If he actually was doing well. Who will be calling for coalition?

Let him sit up even yorubas are tired of defending him things are hard he knows nothing about good leadership.

Antiurchins:
BUhari is no more so the whole of katsina votes will go for Atiku .

Kwankwaso is negotiating with ADC if that sails through then kano votes is following him to ADC.

Tinubu performed woefully in South west in 2023 election.
He lost Lagos and Osun to Peter Obi and Atiku .

South east is no go area for tinubu and he knows it.

South South you and I know that tinubu will fail there . So where will Tinubu get the vote from?

You're banking on rigging ?
Tinubu succeeded to rig because the north made it possible so wetin una wan do this time ?



If he loses at the poll and refuse to step down or try to impose himself through mago mago na there d country go scatter. INEC can’t rig such a glaring victory from ADC. U think Nigerians r fools? It’s definitely gonna start from d north. Jonathan accepted defeat. Tinubu should accept his wen it’s time. If he actually was doing well. Who will be calling for coalition?

Let him sit up even yorubas are tired of defending him things are hard he knows nothing about good leadership.

Tinubu will win South South hands down.

CoronaVirusPro:
ADC’s National publicity secretary needs to be sacked.

The administration of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is doing so well that nothing concrete can be criticized.

Junior Ambassadors cannot represent Nigeria? Can some remind Bolaji that they do for all countries. As a matter of fact, subordinates do for the US at the UN council.

The overall lack of alternative policy directions by the ADC media machinery is a testament to the glaring incompetence of the head. A serious media team would challenge Tinubu's policies. Let the ADC media team talk about the tax reform bills. Let them talk about the regional development commissions. Let them talk about how they'd fix the economy without fuel subsidy and dollar subsidy. Let them tell us what they'd do about healthcare especially their alternative to Tinubu's health fellowship programme. Let them tell us their approach to tacking insecurity...

My observation about Atiku's overbloated media team in the 2023 election was a glaring lack of coordination and even procedural immaturity. It seems they saw their jobs as a joke. Even Phrank Shaibu addressed a press conference to say "we are werking" when there were complaints that they were docile. Their work was attacking Tinubu instead of marketing Atiku's plans.

Going into 2027, ADC's plan is to demarket Tinubu with myopic press releases. Very soon, they'd become fatigued as their attacks would become stale.

ADC, I support Tinubu, but we want a vibrant and sensible opposition to put the government of the day on their toes. Opposition has been almost dead since 2023 and completely absent in states. Organize a policy think tank, study Tinubu's policies and offer intelligent rebuttals.

You cannot be releasing press statements on the fly which expose the intellectual emptiness of your media vehicle.

Send your spokesman for deep training on political marketing. He is currently demarketing ADC like a rudderless rabid dog doing woof woof woof.

Antiurchins:
BUhari is no more so the whole of katsina votes will go for Atiku .

Kwankwaso is negotiating with ADC if that sails through then kano votes is following him to ADC.

Tinubu performed woefully in South west in 2023 election.
He lost Lagos and Osun to Peter Obi and Atiku .

South east is no go area for tinubu and he knows it.

South South you and I know that tinubu will fail there . So where will Tinubu get the vote from?

You're banking on rigging ?
Tinubu succeeded to rig because the north made it possible so wetin una wan do this time ?



If he loses at the poll and refuse to step down or try to impose himself through mago mago na there d country go scatter. INEC can’t rig such a glaring victory from ADC. U think Nigerians r fools? It’s definitely gonna start from d north. Jonathan accepted defeat. Tinubu should accept his wen it’s time. If he actually was doing well. Who will be calling for coalition?

Let him sit up even yorubas are tired of defending him things are hard he knows nothing about good leadership.

The biggest scandal against Atiku and these pedestrian permutations would be if Atiku collects defeat again with Buhari out of the scene. It would simply mean that Buhari's absence can still defeat Atiku. Stop saying the votes would automatically go to Atiku. It doesn't happen that way.

Sardauna is late, but his people will not vote for certain individuals because they don't trust them over what happened to Sardauna.

Atiku had his chance; what did he do for the northerners for them to trust him? Or you think northerners forget easily?

ADC should stop being in rush. They should wait until they get to power and fix this.