The Presidency has reversed its earlier decision and has withdrawn the appointment of former Kebbi State Governor, Usman Saidu Dakingari, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey, less than 24 hours after the announcement was made.
A statement issued on Thursday night by Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the posting of four ambassadors-designate from the more than 60 nominees confirmed in December.
They included former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Kayode Are, who was named ambassador-designate to the United States. Former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, was posted to France, while former ambassador to South Korea, Amin Dalhatu, was appointed high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
Dakingari was initially listed as ambassador-designate to Turkey.
The announcement of Dakingari’s posting was shared on X but was later deleted. His appointment had come just days before President Tinubu’s planned state visit to Turkey.
However, in a fresh statement released on Friday by the State House, Onanuga said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.
The new statement restated the postings of Are, Oke and Dalhatu but removed Dakingari’s name.
No explanation was given for the sudden change.
Onanuga added that President Tinubu has already sent a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally notify the governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom about the ambassadors-designate, in line with diplomatic protocol.
