The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his continued failure to appoint ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions, describing the prolonged diplomatic vacuum as “a national embarrassment” with dire consequences for Nigeria’s foreign relations.

In a statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party lamented that Nigeria has been without officially accredited ambassadors since 2023, when the Tinubu administration recalled 109 ambassadors from missions across the globe, a situation the ADC described as unprecedented and dangerous.

“This is the longest Nigeria has gone without ambassadors in its foreign missions,” the statement said. “If this embarrassing absence is allowed to persist, other countries may begin to downgrade their representation in Nigeria. Unfortunately, Nigerians — especially those abroad — will suffer the consequences.”

The ADC criticized the administration’s delay, stating it reflects the government’s poor grasp of global diplomacy and its lack of urgency in protecting national interests.

“The refusal to replace the recalled ambassadors after two years reflects the Tinubu administration’s low ambition for the country and a troubling misunderstanding of what it takes to govern a country as important as Nigeria,” the statement added.

According to the ADC, the diplomatic vacuum has already begun to negatively impact Nigeria’s relations with key countries such as the United States and the United Arab Emirates, particularly on issues relating to visas and consular services.

“Junior diplomats and chargés d’affaires cannot replace ambassadors,” the statement noted. “They lack the access, recognition, and authority to fully represent Nigeria’s interests abroad. The quality of our diplomatic engagement has declined, and the morale among our foreign service professionals is at its lowest.”

he party further warned that Nigeria is increasingly being sidelined in major global negotiations and multilateral forums where high-level representation is essential. “While other African nations assert themselves in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, Nigeria remains stuck in neutral, unable even to introduce itself,” the ADC said.

In a scathing critique, the party accused the Tinubu administration of prioritizing political patronage over competence in filling ambassadorial positions.

“While the administration takes its sweet time deciding which cronies to reward, Nigerians abroad, from students to professionals, continue to endure indignities due to poor consular services and lack of representation,” the statement read.

The ADC also pointed to what it described as a recent diplomatic blunder involving the Nigerian government’s response to a request by the United States to receive deported Venezuelan nationals. The party criticized the Foreign Minister’s public handling of the matter on a primetime television show, calling it “reckless and undiplomatic.”

“Sensitive diplomatic communications with a powerful partner like the United States should be handled with discretion, not on live TV,” the statement added. “But this is a government that prefers showiness over serious, thoughtful policy.”

The ADC concluded by urging President Tinubu to “act without delay” to appoint competent ambassadors and restore dignity to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.

“President Tinubu must move swiftly to avoid further diplomatic embarrassment. Nigeria cannot afford to be absent on the global stage any longer,” the statement stressed. (THE GUARDIAN)