THIS DAY

Ali Dropped from Ambassadorial List

•58 Others get posting

From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 05.03.2008

Following what sources said was his outright refusal to accept his posting to South Africa as Nigeria’s Ambassador, the immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Ahmadu Ali, has been dropped from the list of ambassadors.

However, 58 ambassadorial designates who had been awaiting their posting several months after their confirmation by the senate, have been assigned countries at last (see full list on page 6).

Ali was said to have rejected his posting to South Africa, instead showing a preference for the United State or the United Kingdom.

Subsequently, President Umaru Yar’Adua has directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe to replace the vacancy created by Ali’s removal from the list of envoys with a career diplomat from the foreign affairs ministry. A career diplomat may also be assigned from the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).

An authoritative presidency source who confirmed this to THISDAY, yesterday disclosed further that Ali was dropped following his sudden insistence on going to the United Kingdom or nothing else. Ali had earlier accepted the posting to South Africa.

The source further disclosed that India, Ireland and Pakistan are yet to clear the Ambassadors assigned to them.

“For those yet to resume, everything is being done to hasten their quick resumption at their duty posts without further delay,” the source said.
Meanwhile, postings have been confirmed for over 50 ambassadors-designate. They include: Prof. Joy Ogwu-United Nations (UN) Mission in New York (political); R. V. Onemola (DPR) - United Nations (career); Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi - G8 Washington DC (political); Senator Dalhatu Tafida – (G8) United Kingdom (political); B. G. Wakil (DCM) - Washington DC (career); Mr. B. U. Eyo (DCM) – Beijing China (career) and Alhaji Abdulahi Garba Aminch, Riyadh Saudi Arabia (political)

Others are: Mr. G. H. Bristol, (G8) Paris, France (career); Major General Timothy Shelpidi (rtd), G8 Moscow, Russia (political); Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, - Accra, Ghana (political); Dr. Etim. U. Uye – Athens, Greece (political); Usman Baraya – Brussels, Belgium; Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Niniola Akanbi – The Hague, Netherlands (political); Chief  Empire Kanu - Madrid, Spain (political); Hon. Jerry Ugokwe - Vienna, Austria (political); Dr. G. Bolodei Igali - Stockholm, Sweden (career); Amb. Peter Layi Oyedele - Kingston, Jamaica (political) and Ahmed A. M. Madori - Ankara, Turkey.

Also in the list are: Mr. Godwin Agbo - (G8) Tokyo, Japan; Professor Olu Agbi - Canberra, Australia; Alhaji Isa. A. Muhammed - Tripoli, Libya; Mr. P. A. Dauda -Yaounde, Cameroon; Prince Eheneden Erediauwa - (G8) Rome, Italy; Ms. A. Mamuno – Warsaw (career), Poland; Amb. C. W. Wigwe - Nairobi, Kenya (career); Mr. S. L. Mohammed - Cairo, Egypt (career); Mrs. Folake M. Bello - Lusaka, Zambia (political); Mr. E. A. Adigun - Monrovia, Liberia (career); Sen. Umaru A. Suleiman - Bangkok, Thailand (political) and Hon. Musa John - Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
THISDAY had exclusively reported yesterday that most of the ambassadors-designate were still being delayed by what is termed in diplomatic parlance as the agreemon, which is the necessary clearance document needed from their countries of destination.

Ambassadorial    LIST

    Name                                                               Country of Destination      
    Prof. Joy Ogwu                                                 United Nations (UN) mission in New York
R. V. Onemola                                                      (DPR)  United Nations
Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi                    Washington DC (G8)
Senator Dalhatu Tafida                                       United Kingdom (G8)
B. G. Wakil (DCM)                                                  Washington DC
Mr. B. U. Eyo (DCM)                                               Beijing China
Alhaji Abdulahi Garba Aminch                              Saudi Arabia
Mr. G. H. Bristol                                                    France  (G8)
Major General Timothy Shelpidi                           Russia
Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro                                         Ghana
Dr. Etim. U. Uye                                                        Greece
Usman Baraya                                                       Belgium
Mrs. Nimota Niniola Akanbi                                   Netherlands
Chief  Empire Kanu                                                 Spain
Hon. Jerry Ugokwe                                                Austria
Dr. G. Bolodei Igali                                                  Sweden
Amb. Peter Layi Oyedele                                       Jamaica
Ahmed A. M. Madori                                               Turkey
Mr. Godwin Agbo                                                    Japan (G8)
Professor Olu Agbi                                                  Australia
Alhaji Isa. A. Muhammed                                      Libya
Mr. P. A. Dauda                                                       Cameroon
Prince Eheneden Erediauwa                                 Italy (G8)
Ms. A. Mamuno                                                         Poland
Amb. C. W. Wigwe                                                   Kenya
Mr. S. L. Mohammed                                               Egypt
Mrs. Folake M. Bello                                               Zambia
Mr. E. A. Adigun                                                       Liberia
Sen. Umaru A. Suleiman                                      Thailand
Hon. Musa John                                                    Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Ms. Esther John Audu                                        The Gambia
Mr. Mark Egbe                                                       Burkina Faso
Mr. Godson Echegile                                           Sierra Leone
Alhaji Bashir Yuguda                                          United Arab Emirate
Mr. C. L. Laseinde                                                Launda, Angola
Hon. Desmo Akawor                                            South Korea
Chief Sonny Abang                                                  Mali
Mr. Obed Wadzani                                                 Argentina
Hon. Felix Oboro                                                   Venezuela
Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi                                          Guinea
Dr. Ishaya Majambu                                            Tanzania
Sen. S. U. Baju                                                     Cuba
Ibrahim B. Maisule                                             Indonesia
Mr. Toye Olofintuyi                                               Mozambique
Mr. A. Omaki                                                            Chad
Sen. A. Mohammed Wali                                        Morocco
Alhaji Abubakar Cika                                              Iran
Amb. (Prof) I. Hagher                                            Canada
Mr. J. Y. Hassan                                                   Algeria
Mr. Y. T. Zaria                                                   Central African Republic
Mr. G. O. Agamah                                              Guinea
Mr. S. M. Pissagih                                              Congo
Chief Fidel Ayogu                                             Uganda
Mr. A. Mba                                                                Romania
Bar. Ibrahim Kasi                                                  Ukraine
Brig. Gen. Yusuf Abubakar (rtd)                   North Korea
Amb. A. O. Adeyanju                                          Zimbabwe
Mr. A. G. Bala                                                                 Kuwait