Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently retract the recently forwarded ambassadorial nomination list, arguing that the composition undermines the federal character requirement embedded in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The Senate, on Thursday, acknowledged receipt of the list containing career and non-career ambassadors nominated by the president.
It has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for vetting and recommendations.
Ndume, who represents Borno South, criticised what he described as an uneven and exclusionary arrangement.
He maintained that the list fell short of the constitutional provision that demands fairness, balance, and a sense of belonging for every section of the country.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, he said the allocation of nominees “clearly tilts toward certain states while shutting out others entirely,” citing Gombe State as one of the states without a single nominee.
He further noted that the North East was allocated only seven slots, despite its geopolitical significance, adding that Yobe’s sole nominee, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, died in July.
Ndume argued that Nigeria’s foundational framework was constructed on diversity and shared ownership.
He said any federal appointment that contradicts that principle risks unsettling the delicate trust that holds the nation together.
“This country has survived because its people believe the system sees them,” he said.
“When political appointments begin to suggest otherwise, suspicion deepens and unity becomes fragile.”
He described the imbalance as a violation of the Constitution, which, he stressed, mandates that every federal appointment must reflect national inclusiveness to discourage marginalisation and prevent the dominance of any region.
Ndume appealed to the president to revisit the nomination with fresh consideration.
“At this moment where the nation is grappling with social and ethnic sensitivity, the government cannot afford avoidable tension linked to public appointments,” he said.
He referred to President Tinubu as a leader with a broad worldview and urged him to maintain that image by ensuring equal representation across all states and zones to build public trust.
“President Tinubu is seen as a cosmopolitan leader with a track record of inclusiveness,” Ndume added.
“It is important that the ambassadorial list mirrors his reputation by giving every state its rightful place. Only fairness strengthens cohesion.”