Ex-envoy lauds FG’s nomination of career diplomats

Amb. Yerima Isa, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Congo said that the nomination of only carrier diplomats for ambassadorial posting by the Federal Government was a wise decision.

Isa gave the commendation on Saturday in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

Isa, who was also a carrier diplomat, said that job was a technical one, demanding those who were exposed to foreign services to handle.

He criticised the idea of posting politicians, who could be ignorant of foreign mission operations to handle ambassadorial position.

According to him, Buhari’s style of appointment shows that he believes in technocrats.

With my all sense of responsibility, I want to commend President Buhari for the nomination of carrier diplomats as ambassadors.

Foreign mission requires those who are abreast of foreign operations, not just to pick a politician to serve.

As a former envoy, I am familiar with most of those nominees and I can testify that they are good hands and Nigeria will be indeed proud that she has sent good representatives.

On the same hand, I am not saying that politicians cannot do it but the issue of concern is how efficient can they administer foreign missions.

You cannot give what you do not have, and since they are not exposed to foreign operations, they tend to sometimes make a lot of mistakes.

The nature of Mr President’s appointments show that he want experts to handle technical jobs and that will do us good,’’ he said.