Barely 24 hours after announcing ambassadorial appointments, the presidency has withdrawn the posting of Usman Dakingari, former Kebbi governor, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, issued a statement Thursday night confirming President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the posting of four ambassadors-designate out of the over 60 nominees confirmed last December.
“Kayode Are, former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the United States. Ayodele Oke, former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was posted to France; Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, was appointed high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; while Dakingari was made ambassador-designate to Turkey.”
Dakingari’s appointment had come ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.
But in a statement released Friday by the State House, Onanuga clarified, “No ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.”
The statement reiterated the postings of Are, Oke, and Dalhatu, while omitting Dakingari’s now-rescinded appointment. The presidency did not provide a reason for the sudden change.
Onanuga added, “Tinubu has written a memo to the ministry of foreign affairs to notify the governments of the three countries about the ambassadors-designate, in accordance with diplomatic procedures.”
