Ambassadorial Nomination: Don’t expect too much from Senate, Joe Keshi Tells Nigerians

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Nigerian diplomat Ambassador Joe Keshi, has warned Nigerians against expecting any rigorous interrogation of ambassadorial nominees by the Senate.

 Speaking on ARISE News yesterday, Keshi said he had no confidence that the current Senate would challenge any of the names submitted by the presidency.

He stated that Nigerians should not expect surprises, declaring that “let’s not waste time debating whether they will surprise us. They will not surprise us.” He added that “the Senate we know today, under the current leadership of the Senate, is not going to surprise us.”

Keshi argued that the Senate has a record of allowing nominees to bypass scrutiny, stressing that “Nigerian Senate does not pursue such rigorous investigations.”

He said the pattern of allowing nominees to simply take a bow would continue, especially for individuals with strong political connections or ties to serving lawmakers.

 The former diplomat expressed concern that the lack of proper vetting undermines Nigeria’s global representation and erodes public trust. According to him, some nominees on the list have controversial backgrounds and should face serious questioning, yet the Senate is unlikely to confront them.”

Keshi also raised issues with the government’s piecemeal release of ambassadorial lists. He said this approach creates unnecessary controversy and complicates public assessment of the full scope of the appointments.

He argued that previous administrations typically submitted a comprehensive list at once, saying, “in the past years… a comprehensive list is put out there and sent to the Senate, not a piecemeal.”

 While acknowledging that some nominees are well qualified, Keshi maintained that others do not belong on the list, pointing to former governors with questionable records. He criticised the practice of rewarding politicians who performed poorly in office, stating, “when a guy runs a state and runs it down, and you are giving him another appointment to represent you, does that make sense?”

He also expressed concern about Nigeria’s political culture, noting that “most politicians in Nigeria lose elections, lose their offices, and then they say that they must remain relevant or be part of the political game.”

On specific non career nominees, Keshi acknowledged that some are capable and could represent the country well. He praised some individuals as “very fine characters… who I have no doubt would make good ambassadors” and described others as having the right temperament and composure for diplomatic service.

However, he emphasised that many career officers within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been overlooked. He appealed to the president to give adequate consideration to professionals within the ministry.

Keshi concluded with the view that Nigeria must prioritise merit and credibility in key diplomatic postings if it hopes to strengthen its foreign policy engagements and restore confidence in public appointments.

 Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has praised President Bola Tinubu for naming former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as one of Nigeria’s new ambassadorial nominees.

In a statement signed by the state chairman, Amah Abraham, the party said the nomination is well deserved and shows recognition of Ikpeazu’s years of service.

According to the Abia PDP, Ikpeazu has shown strong leadership, dedication to peace, and commitment to development during his time in public office. The party said it is proud of his achievements and his contributions to the progress of both Abia State and Nigeria.

The PDP added that President Tinubu’s decision proves that competence and experience are still important in choosing leaders who will represent the country.

The party expressed confidence that Ikpeazu will serve Nigeria well and make the nation proud in his new role.