A factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for nominating former presidential aide Reno Omokri as an ambassador, saying the nominee’s history of publicly criticizing the president makes the appointment questionable.
Arabambi, who spoke during an interview on Arise News, said all other nominees on the list were deserving, but Omokri’s inclusion was unnecessary. He, however, acknowledged that the President reserves the constitutional right to appoint ambassadors.
According to him, the nominations remain subject to Senate approval, where each nominee’s credentials will be vetted in line with legislative procedures.
“Now that the president has the prerogative to nominate his ambassadors, they would go before the Senate and their resumes presented for approval,” he said. “I believe the Akpabio-led Senate would definitely do justice.”
Arabambi urged critics to allow the confirmation process run its course, noting that similar scrutiny had led to some ministerial nominees being rejected in the past.
“So no matter the political hirakiri being generated by forces condemning some of the ambassadorial nominees… allow the Senate to do the proper work,” he added.
He maintained that while Omokri may be professionally qualified, his history of publicly attacking the president could influence the Senate’s final decision.
“Everyone nominated, except one person whom I felt the president ought not to have considered, is Reno,” he said. “While Reno Omokri is qualified, his history of criticizing the president on some occasions may count against him.”
