Denge Josef Onoh, chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former South East spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, has criticised the recent nomination of three non-career ambassadors by President Tinubu for Senate confirmation, citing the absence of South East representation.
The nominees include Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo State, Yoruba), Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun State, Yoruba), and Ambassador Aminu Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa State, Hausa). While acknowledging their professional credentials in diplomacy, intelligence, and national security, Onoh raised concerns over ethnic imbalance in the selections.
“The composition—two from the Yoruba ethnic group and one from the Hausa—ignores the Igbo and the Southeast geopolitical zone entirely,” Onoh said during a media briefing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. “This omission undermines the federal character principle enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates equitable representation across Nigeria’s diverse regions.”
Onoh warned that the exclusion could fuel perceptions of bias within the administration, deepen mistrust among South Easterners, and negatively affect the ruling APC’s political prospects in the region ahead of the 2027 elections. He urged President Tinubu to consider adding qualified candidates from the Southeast and South-South zones to uphold inclusivity and restore confidence in the government’s commitment to national unity.
He added, “To maintain Nigeria’s global standing, our diplomatic corps must reflect the diversity of our federation. Prompt corrective action can mitigate polarization and demonstrate that every Nigerian is valued.”
