Tinubu Shocks Abuja as Reno Omokri, Ex-INEC Boss Mahmud Yakubu Headline 32 New Ambassadorial Nominees

-


By Nwafor Oji Awala 

Abuja’s political corridor stirred with surprise on Saturday as President Bola Tinubu unveiled a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees, with two names dominating conversations: Reno Omokri, fiery former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and Professor Mahmud Yakubu, immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Omokri—known nationally for his outspoken activism and relentless social commentary—was listed as a non-career ambassador from Delta State, marking one of the most dramatic inclusions in the president’s second major diplomatic shake-up. Yakubu, whose tenure at INEC oversaw two landmark general elections, also made the list, setting off intense debate about his next deployment on the global stage.

The nominations were contained in two formal letters sent to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with President Tinubu urging swift and decisive confirmation of the 17 non-career and 15 career ambassadors.

A statement issued by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga, titled “Tinubu Nominates 32 Additional Ambassadors,” confirmed the inclusion of ten women and a wide spread of political heavyweights and technocrats.

But it was the pairing of Reno Omokri and Mahmud Yakubu that electrified the political landscape.

Omokri, a prominent critic of the current administration until recently, now stands poised to join Nigeria’s foreign service corps. Yakubu, whose stewardship of INEC made him one of the most scrutinized figures in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, is also expected to take up a high-stakes diplomatic role.

They join a roster of non-career nominees that includes former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi; former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode; former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi; and ex-Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Career nominees include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Maimuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Lioma David (Ebonyi), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), among others.

According to the presidency, the diplomats-in-waiting will be dispatched to strategic global capitals including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union—but only after Senate confirmation.

This latest batch follows the earlier nomination of Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are.

With Reno Omokri stepping into diplomatic circles and Mahmud Yakubu transitioning from electoral stewardship to global representation, Tinubu’s new list is already reshaping Nigeria’s political atmosphere—provoking admiration, speculation, and controversy in equal measure.

Nwafor Oji Awala 

©️ Prime Heritage Magazine 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OGALE STAKEHOLDERS RECEIVE LEGAL BRIEFING ON LANDMARK COURT RULING IN SHELL POLLUTION CASE

-
Image
By Nwafor Oji Awala. Ogale, Eleme – July 11, 2025 The Royal Court at Obarijima Palace, Ogale, was the venue of a momentous stakeholders’ meeting on Friday, July 11, 2025, as members of the Ogale community gathered to receive a comprehensive legal update on their long-standing environmental lawsuit against oil giant Shell. The briefing was delivered by Mr. Anthony Hayward of Leigh Day, the UK-based law firm representing both Ogale and Bille communities in the case currently before the High Court in London. Presiding over the gathering was His Royal Highness, King Godwin Maduabushi Bebe Okpabi Paramount Ruler of Ogale and Oneh-eh Nchia X. The meeting drew a cross-section of the community: traditional chiefs, women leaders, youth representatives, legal observers, and members of the diaspora, all unified by a deep concern over the environmental devastation that has plagued Ogale for decades. A Legal Turning Point for Ogale and Bille Mr. Hayward’s update focused on the preliminary ...
Read more

Prof. Ndowa Lale Leads Peace Drive to Reunite MOSOP: Ogoni Chiefs Council Charts New Course for Unity

-
Image
By John Ollor Obe. In a pivotal move to resolve the longstanding leadership crisis within the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers has inaugurated a high-powered Peace Reconciliation Committee—placing Professor Sunday Ndowa E. Lale, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, at the helm of efforts to reunite the fractured movement. The committee was officially inaugurated on July 15, 2025, under the guidance of HRM (Sir) King Samuel L. A. Nnee JP, AmbP, FIIM, ACArb, D.min, the Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom and Convener of the Supreme Council. With the blessing of the court, the Council has sought to mediate and harmonize leadership disputes that have plagued MOSOP for years. Prof. Lale, a renowned academic and community leader from Eleme, was appointed Chairman of the reconciliation body—tasked with the monumental responsibility of restoring peace and cohesion to MOSOP, which for decades has been the global vo...
Read more

FROM SETBACK TO STARDOM: THE RELENTLESS JOURNEY OF SHARON EJII OBEY TO THE BAR

-
Image
By Nwafor Oji Awala | In an inspiring tale of grit, grace, and unshakable faith, Sharon Ejii Obey has emerged not only as a Barrister but as a shining symbol of relentless determination, proving that setbacks are setups for divine comebacks. The journey began in 2015 when Sharon, a young woman full of dreams and ambition, gained admission to study Law at North America University. Her passion for the legal profession burned bright — until an unexpected storm struck. By her fourth year, Sharon discovered that her university’s Law degree was not recognized by the Nigerian Law School. Devastated but not defeated, she left with only her transcript, facing an uncertain future. "I told myself I will never be a school dropout," Sharon recalls. With this personal vow, she returned to Nigeria and knocked on the doors of several universities, seeking admission to continue from where she had stopped. But almost all required her to start afresh — from 100 level. That painful reality, ...
Read more