Appointments of ambassadors or high commissioners by the President is a constitutional obligation. There should not be any delay in such appointments. Section 171 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that, (1) Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall vest in the President.

(2) The offices to which this section applies are, namely – (a) Secretary to the Government of the Federation; (b) Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; (c) Ambassador, High Commissioner or other Principal Representative of Nigeria abroad; (d) Permanent Secretary in any Ministry or Head of any Extra-Ministerial Department of the Government of the Federation howsoever designated; and (e) any office on the personal staff of the President.

(3) An appointment to the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation shall not be made except from among Permanent Secretaries or equivalent rank in the civil service of the Federation or of a State. (4) An appointment to the office of Ambassador, High Commissioner or other Principal Representative of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless the appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

(5) In exercising his powers of appointment under this section, the President shall have regard to the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.

(6) Any appointment made pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (2) of this section shall be at the pleasure of the President and shall cease when the President ceases to hold office; Provided that where a person has been appointed from a public service of the Federation or a State, he shall be entitled to return to the public service of the Federation or of the State when the President ceases to hold office.

The delay in appointing ambassadors mirrors the way this government think of the roles of ambassadors. Ambassadors actively manage and maintain diplomatic relations between the home country and the host. They engage in political and economic negotiations, promote bilateral cooperation and safeguards the home country’s interest in the host country. Additionally, they supervise the functioning of consulates within their jurisdiction.

They are not just mere desk officers or protocol officers whose schedule is only to hire uber vehicles for President, their relatives and other top officials. They are an integral part of government. 

Ambassadors also engage in delicate negotiations, representing their country’s policies while understanding others’ perspectives. This balancing act is crucial for successful international relations. Their work includes advocating for their home country’s political, economic, and cultural agendas abroad. Ambassadors are the voice of their nation in foreign lands, aiming to foster global partnerships. 

How can we be chasing foreign investments when ambassadors who are to play prominent roles in such negotiations have not been appointed.  If ministers could be appointed and sworn-in three months after Presidential inauguration, why delay the appointments of ambassadors. 

At the 79th General Assembly of the United Nation, Nigeria made a legitimate demand for a permanent seat at the United Nations security council. At the time we made the demand, we had no permanent representative in the United Nations. What a contradiction. We undervalue the position of ambassadors in this country. We starve their embassies of funds and we pay little attention to their needs.  

We acknowledged the efforts of Mr. Walter Carrington (July 24, 1930-August 11, 2020), the American ambassador to Nigeria between 1993-1997 and the role he played in standing for human rights during the General Sani Abacha years. He stood firm by his principles and he was resolute in defending human rights. 
In other countries of the world, the ambassadorship is the training ground for leadership.

Otto Von Bismarck, in 1859 was the Prussian ambassador to Russia and later to Paris in 1862 in the court of Napoleon III, he later became Prime Minister. George H. W. Bush (June 12, 1924-November 30 , 2018) was the 41st President of the United States of America. He was equally the 10th United States American ambassador to the United Nations from (1March 1971-18 January 1973).

Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa (November12 , 1938- July 24, 2020) was Tanzania ambassador to Nigeria in 1976. He was Tanzania Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1980. In 1982, he served as High Commissioner to Canada and between 1983 and 1984 as Ambassador to the United States of America.

He returned home in 1984 where he was again appointed Member of Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 1992, he served as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, prior to being elected President in 1995, and Chairman of his Party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, (1996-2006). He was re-elected President in 2000 for another 5-year term.

There was Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (82). He was the second post-apartheid South African President. He was the African National Congress (ANC) envoy in Nigeria between 1976 and 1978. He established the ANC presence that eclipsed that of its rival Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). While in Lagos, he formed strong friendship with the then head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR and top civil servants, including Yahaya Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Bisi Ogunniyi and others. 

Likewise, there are examples of those who have served in leadership positions yet end up to become ambassadors. Mr. Walter Frederick “Fritz” Mondale (January 5, 1928-April 19, 2021) was the 42nd Vice President of the United States of America, and served from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter. He became United States of American ambassador to Japan between 1993 to 1996.

Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim was the Prime Minister of Tanzania between April 24, 1984 to November 5, 1985. He became the Secretary General of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) between 1989 and 2001, later African Union special envoy on Dafur between 2004 and 2008. Mr. Kevin Rudd (67) is at present the 23rd Australian ambassador to the United States of America. He was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia and served between June 27, 2013 and September 18, 2018. 

Nigeria in the past has never been short of outstanding ambassadors. Almost all of them represented Nigeria without blemish. At the risk of offending many, let me mention some ambassadors we have had in the past.

Joe Iyala, Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, Joe Keshi, Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, B. A. T. Balewa, Olu Adeniji, Oladele Akadiri, Olusegun Apata, G. Dove-Edwin, H. Harriman J. N. Ukaegbu, L. A. Fabunmi, A. G. P. Omotayo, S. A. Otuyelu, Segun Olusola, Ebun Oyagbola, Tobi Ogundipe, Olujimi Jolaoso, Christopher Kolade, Florentina Adenike Ukonga, Uzoma Eminike, Martine Gereng-Sen, Oladele Abiodun, Ijeoma Bristol, Laraba Bhutto, Sifawu Momoh, Zainab Ali Kotoko, Chigozie Obi Nnadozie, Francisca Olaide Marinho, Isaac Aluko-Olokun, Ignatius Chukuemeka Olisemeka, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Oladele Akadire, Dapo Fawora, Olu Saanu, Olu Ibunkun, etc. They are countless.
Let us dwell on the pioneer ambassadors. 
To be continued tomorrow.
Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.