Costly Delay: Ex-Envoy Amedu-Ode Blasts Ambassadorial Appointments Stalemate

A former Nigerian ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, has stated that the delay by some foreign countries in accepting Nigeria’s newly nominated ambassadors reflects diplomatic pragmatism ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with Sunday Punch, Amedu-Ode supported reports suggesting that some host nations may be reluctant to grant agrément—the formal approval required for an ambassadorial posting—because of the limited time left in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term.

According to him, the stance of the receiving countries is guided by realism rather than hostility.

“The key word here is pragmatism,” he said. “Those countries are simply being practical, considering that the next general elections are barely a year away, around February and March.”

Amedu-Ode explained that the hesitation stems from concerns about diplomatic continuity, noting that elections are unpredictable and could result in a change of leadership.

“The issue is whether it makes sense to accept letters of credence from an envoy appointed by a president who will be facing elections in just over a year. Elections can go either way,” he said.

He added that, for this reason, some countries may deliberately slow down the process of granting agrément to incoming ambassadors.

“They may choose to delay issuing approval rather than outright rejecting the nominee,” he noted.

The former envoy, however, faulted the Tinubu administration for what he described as an avoidable strategic error, arguing that the delay in nominating ambassadors created the current situation.

“The real mistake lies with the government for waiting two to three years into its tenure before nominating, screening, and deploying heads of mission,” he said.

Amedu-Ode also pointed out that established diplomatic protocol requires seeking agrément before publicly announcing ambassadorial appointments to avoid potential embarrassment if a nominee is turned down.

“Technically, once nominations are made, the ministry should first request approval from the receiving countries before making any public announcement. That way, if a nominee is rejected, it does not become a public issue,” he added.