By Ambassador Lilian Onoh
LET me first start by congratulating the 34 career Ambassadors-designate. To reach this level, these officers have endured nothing less than 10 separate exams, interviews, repeated verifications and all sorts of real time experiences that have earned them their spot as ambassadors. Their duty is to represent Nigeria and Nigerians, no matter who is in power. I wish them God’s blessings and protection as they go forth.
But as for the political nominees, who were hand-chosen by the President as the best persons to represent him and reflect his values and vision, I shudder.
Let me give a run-down of the history of some of these nominees; facts that are known to the N.I.A., the D.S.S., the National Security Adviser (NSA), almost all foreign intelligence agencies; and of course, to the President that nominated them.
Among these characters currently jostling to represent Nigeria at the most prestigious capitals in the world, are:
A former(?) drug addict that used to roam the streets of Brighton (England) in his filthy, soiled underpants after frying his brains from excessive indulgence.
A former(?) mental case that previously confessed to the Senate that his mental problem was attended to spiritually in Ghana when he was screened for his former ministerial position. He apologised for his previous unhinged conduct, which he attributed to “depression”. Under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), depression is considered a disability and is classified as a mental health disorder. Patients can relapse and can need lifelong medication and psychotherapy.
A couple of well-known serial wife batterers – a crime that is unacceptable in practically every country, except Nigeria, where Section 55 (1) (D) of the Penal Code still permits husbands “to use physical means to chastise/correct their wives as long as it does not result in ‘grievous harm’, which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, speech, facial disfigurement or life-threatening injuries”.
A roll call of EFCC Alumni of alleged looters/embezzlers of billions in public funds which combined, might equal, or even surpasses our national debt; an EFCC Alumnus that stashed over $43 Million (initial reports had stated $47Million) in a block of luxury flats in Ikoyi and whose charges were dropped after forfeiting these “assets”, not on grounds of innocence, but on grounds of national security; a decision suggesting that he had too much information on too many people to face trial. The video of the bust is still on the BBC website for anyone who wants to see what $43 million in cash looks like.
Alleged sponsors/supporters of Boko Haram and other terrorists; persons with no principles or allegiances, who vomit words from all orifices of their bodies and shamelessly gorge themselves on their putrid excrement in full public glare to satisfy their endless greed and entitlement to government funds, which is the only source of income they have ever known.
Several known alcoholics, alleged drug addicts and others dependent on prescription meds to appear normal.
In cases where certain individuals could not endure the scrutiny; or whose travel may have been blocked by Western governments for their past misdeeds, they proposed their wives in hope that they will be able to bypass these pesky travel restrictions with their newly minted spousal diplomatic passports. They are in for a rude shock.
The DSS that gave them security clearances before their sham Senate “screening” knows each and every person described above, as do many Nigerians. The National Security Adviser (NSA) that should have stood his ground against this gross security breach knows. The Senate that waived any scrutiny by telling them to bow and go also knew, thereby discrediting itself. More importantly, there is no foreign government that does not know these facts.
If any government actually gives agréement to any of these individuals, then the only logical conclusion is that the intention is to gain vicarious control of Nigeria’s foreign and domestic policies through their ability to blackmail them. They will be able to control these compromised characters by simply threatening to blow up their dirty secrets in the event that that they dare try to promote Nigeria’s interest if it is in conflict with theirs. Knowing their weaknesses, setting them up should be very easy. Can these characters even put up a fight for any Nigerian in consular difficulties overseas? We still remember the case of our officer mishandled by Indonesian police officers and Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s former foreign Minister, blaming the officer for resisting arrest instead of demanding an apology and compensation for the officer.
Who knows which of these compromised charlatans will work with a foreign government to ensure the overthrow of the President? Or sell out Nigeria to a multi-national oil company? Or sign international agreements that are not in Nigeria’s best interest? With any of these characters at the UN or A.U. or any of the major capitals where political ambassadors traditionally hold sway, God help Nigeria.
At every diplomatic function, the history of these charlatans will be the stuff of salacious gossip, mockery and backhanded insults, given as only seasoned diplomats know how. Their counterparts will have already received their background information to ensure that they can arm twist them to give Nigeria’s “support” when necessary; therefore multiple countries can actually be arm-twisting the same ambassador at their post.
They will be totally ineffective in the face of all sorts of humiliation at the hands of their host authorities and counterparts, and will ultimately be holed up in the Chancery, tormenting the officers in their missions rather than attend diplomatic functions where they know they are the butt of jokes, as others titter when they walk by or conversations come to an abrupt halt when they appear.
Nigerians should expect to see these Nigerian Ambassadors speak up in support of issues that are clearly not in Nigeria’s National Interest because of the behind the scenes threats, using their disgraceful history as leverage.
Who knows if one of these governments will ask them to get a letter from Geoffrey Onyeama, the legally recognised Ministry of Foreign Affairs as per Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya’s judgment, before accepting them or issuing visas to them?
But we cannot cry more than the bereaved. President Tinubu believes that these people are the best Nigerians to represent him to the world – his own mirror. He has defined himself by his own nominees – lunatics, alcoholics, drug addicts, wife batterers, multi-million dollar stashers, a slew of EFCC detention alumni, loquacious louts and one that openly called him a drug baron. What a reflection to see in the mirror you created, Mr. President!
