The Labour Party’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, has expressed reservations about President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Reno Omokri as an ambassador. According to Arabambi, while the president has the constitutional right to appoint ambassadors, Omokri’s past criticisms of the president may hinder his confirmation. In an interview with Arise News, Arabambi acknowledged that the Nigerian Constitution grants the president the prerogative to nominate ambassadors, subject to Senate confirmation.

Arabambi noted that the nomination process involves the Senate reviewing the nominees’ resumes and conducting a thorough vetting process. He cited the example of ministerial nominees who were previously returned by the Senate, suggesting that the upper chamber will scrutinize the ambassadorial nominees thoroughly. Arabambi emphasized the importance of allowing the Senate to perform its duties, stating that the nominees will be required to present their resumes to the public and undergo questioning.

While Arabambi believes that most of the nominees are deserving of their appointments, he singled out Omokri as the exception. Despite acknowledging Omokri’s qualifications, Arabambi suggested that his history of criticizing the president could be a liability. The nomination of Omokri has generated controversy, with some critics arguing that he is unsuitable for the role due to his past statements.

The Senate’s confirmation process is expected to be rigorous, with nominees facing intense scrutiny. As the nominations undergo review, it remains to be seen whether Omokri’s past criticisms will impact his chances of confirmation. The development highlights the complexities of Nigeria’s diplomatic appointments process, where the president’s nominees must navigate the legislative hurdle of Senate confirmation. The outcome of the confirmation process will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the country’s diplomatic relations and the president’s ability to appoint representatives of his choice.