Prime Business Africa
Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joe Keshi, didn’t hold back on Monday when he appeared on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’.
Speaking with the program’s host, Keshi launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s newly submitted list of ambassadorial nominees, warning that several of the names “have no business representing Nigeria—let alone holding public office.”
He said he was “alarmed by the calibre of individuals selected,” and went on to suggest that many of them “should be cooling their heels in prison” if Nigeria were governed by proper standards. “I’m comfortable with some names on the list, but the truth of the matter is that the bulk of the people on the non‑career list is a bit disturbing. Are these the kind of people we want to represent Nigeria?” he asked, adding:
Join our WhatsApp Channel“You have people who, if justice had prevailed and if this country had been run properly, and the rules of the game obeyed, actually should be cooling their heels within the walls of the prison and not being sent out as ambassadors.”
Keshi didn’t stop at the individuals. He pointed to former governors who appear on the list, accusing them of “gross underperformance” and of being “absolute failures” while in office. “You have people who have governed their states. They were absolute failures. They showed no leadership when they led their states, and the governors who took over from them are struggling to repair the damage they’ve done. Those are the kind of people being rewarded, either because they helped you destroy other political parties,” he said.
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The former head of Nigeria’s foreign ministry warned that the country’s diplomatic reputation is being eroded by political patronage. He reminded listeners that Nigeria has a deep bench of trained, career diplomats who have been “unjustly sidelined.” Recalling the founding ethos of the foreign service in the 1960s, Keshi said the first prime minister wanted a “competent, independent, well‑trained” diplomatic corps that could compete globally—a legacy that, in his view, has been undermined by politicians.
Senior officials at the ministry, he added, are “deeply hurt” by the exclusion of career officers from the latest list. “These officers are demoralised. Tomorrow somebody will accuse them of being unpatriotic, but the truth of the matter is that they are disappointed after being prepared. They’ve gone through training, and at the point where they should be appointed, you’re now saying they are not qualified to represent the country,” Keshi explained.
Turning directly to President Tinubu, Keshi pleaded for a future list that reflects the professionalism and meritocracy the foreign service deserves:
“I beg the President, for goodness’ sake, for the sake of the officers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, to please ensure that the next list contains no other names but the people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
He noted that many career diplomats, some now retired and “bitter,” feel betrayed by a system they served faithfully. “All these officers, as Nigerians today, are very bitter, and they think that Nigeria has done it to them,” he said.
Keshi also hinted at a “conspiracy” behind the removal of former Director‑General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, suggesting that Oke may have been unfairly ousted.
In sum, Keshi’s message was clear: Nigeria’s diplomatic corps is at a crossroads, and the president has a chance to restore credibility by putting qualified career diplomats back in the spotlight. Whether the administration will heed that call remains to be seen.
