Muslims Underrepresented in Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees, Investigation Shows

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s list of 32 ambassadorial nominees has stirred debate across political, ethnic, and religious lines, with only 13 Muslims on the roster, representing 40.6% of the total.

By Abdullahi Yusuf with data and insights from a Muslim News investigation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent announcement of 32 ambassadorial nominees, forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, has sparked reactions across Nigeria’s political, ethnic, and religious spectrum.

A Muslim News investigation shows that only 13 of the nominees are Muslims, accounting for 40.63% of the list. Among these, Non-Career Ambassador Muslim nominees constitute 15.63%, while Career Ambassador Muslim nominees make up 25.00%.

Notably, only two Muslims hail from the Southwest region: Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande of Osun State and Fatima Florence Ajimobi of Oyo State, the widow of the late former Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, who returned to Islam later in life.

For many Muslim communities, the distribution has raised concerns over continued underrepresentation, particularly in a presidency led by a Muslim leader.

Meaning:

1. Non-Career Ambassadors are political appointees who are not part of the foreign service. They are often chosen based on political loyalty, influence, or other considerations, and may not have prior diplomatic training or experience.

2. Career Ambassadors are professional diplomats who rose through the ranks of the foreign service. They are trained, experienced, and usually appointed based on merit, service years, and expertise in international relations.

3. Mrs. Fatima Florence Ajimobi has a mixed heritage, born to a Lebanese Muslim father and a Nigerian Christian mother. She was originally a Muslim, later practised Christianity at some point, and eventually returned to Islam, particularly during the lifetime of her husband, the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. While her current religious affiliation is not publicly confirmed, the classification was based on previously available information.

The list highlights ethno-religious patterns in appointments, reigniting debates over representation, equity, and the role of merit versus political considerations in Nigeria’s foreign service.

Below is the list of the 32 ambassador-designate nominees forwarded by the President to the Senate for confirmation.

Non-Career Ambassadors (17 nominees):

1. Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
2. Reno Omokri (Delta)
3. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi) – MUSLIM
4. Erelu Bisi Angela Adebayo (Ekiti)
5. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)
6. Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina) – MUSLIM
7. Yakubu N. Gambo (Plateau) – MUSLIM
8. Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau)
9. Otunba Femi Pedro (Lagos)
10. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun)
11. Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
12. Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) – MUSLIM
13. Lola Akande (Lagos)
14. Grace Bent (Adamawa)
15. Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
16. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)
17. Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue)

Islamic lifestyle products Career Ambassadors (15 nominees):

1. Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)
2. Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba) – MUSLIM
3. Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa) – MUSLIM
4. Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi) – MUSLIM
5. Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)
6. Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)
7. Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun)
8. Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo)
9. Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo)
10. Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger) – MUSLIM
11. Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina) – MUSLIM
12. Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno) – MUSLIM
13. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna) – MUSLIM
14. Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara) – MUSLIM
15. Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun) – MUSLIM

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