The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that President Bola Tinubu is yet to make any official appointment of ambassadors.

This clarification was issued in response to a list of ambassadorial nominees currently circulating on social media.

In a statement released by the acting spokesperson of the Ministry, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the list was described as false and should be disregarded.

The statement read: “Kindly disregard the frenzy about the ambassadorial list.

“Be rest assured that, when it is ready, Mr. President will transmit the list of nominees to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation.”

The ministry assured Nigerians that the public would be duly informed through the appropriate channels once a legitimate list is finalised.

This clarification comes amid heightened public interest in Nigeria’s diplomatic representation, particularly following the recall of all ambassadors in September 2023.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Rufus Ada George, has been challenged to list a single positive development he brought to the state, other than an alleged introduction of violence and ethnic politics.

This challenge was issued by the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, on Thursday.

In a statement he signed, Olayinka said it was on record that the only impact that can be linked to George was the introduction of “Bush Boys” militant group, which he used to settle political scores.

According to Olayinka: “At old age, people should begin to desist from acting shamelessly.

“After leaving office as Governor in 1993, what happened to his relationship with Dr Peter Odili, who was his deputy? Why did he not support Odili for governor in 1999 and 2003? Why was he in All People’s Party (APP) while Odili was in People’s Democratic Party (PDP)?

“Records of his involvement in the activities of the Bush Boys are well documented in the report of the 2008 Justice Kayode Eso led Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which heard accusations that he (Ada George) sponsored the Bush Boys in the September 2001 violence.

“As a former Governor of Rivers State, he could not reconcile the warring Okrika factions, reason they didn’t have an Amayanabo until Wike became governor. Rather than resolve the chieftaincy crisis, Ada George took side and used his Bush Boys militant group against those against his preferred candidate.

“As Rivers State Governor, in 1993, when violence ensued in the Ogoni people’s protest against exploitation by Shell, Ada George took side with his former employer against the Ogoni people.

“That’s the person of Ada George, who was among those who took side with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara when he threw rule of law to the dogs and was boasting that the State House of Assembly and its members existed only because he wanted them to exist.

“He never for once told Fubara the truth that it was illegal to run a House of Assembly of 32 members with just three members and that it the height of wickedness to deny fellow indigenes of Rivers State their entitlements, thereby making it difficult for to feed and take care of their wives and children.

“Today, at close to 85 years, the same Ada George, who was urging Fubara on in his regime of lawlessness, is addressing the press and advertising his shamelessly by accusing the FCT Minister of being behind the political crisis in Rivers State, including the imposition of a state of emergency and the appointment of sole administrators in all 23 local government areas.

“One wonders where he kept his position as an elder when members of the State House of Assembly, who are indigenes of Rivers State were deprived of their salary and other entitlements by Fubara.

“Also, did the same Ada George, not say that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a ‘meddlesome interloper who engaged in executive rascality by intervening in the crisis and reaching amicable resolutions that all parties signed?’

“Therefore, Ada George is advised to for once, be circumspect and stop advertising shamelessness at old age.”

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled the constitutional requirement to declare his assets, both at the start and end of his presidency.

In a gesture of transparency, he voluntarily made his assets public in June 2015, despite not being legally obligated to do so.

Assets Declared

Real Estate: Houses in Kaduna, Daura, Abuja, and Kano, as well as a plot of land in Port Harcourt, with no foreign properties.

Farms and Livestock: Farmlands in Daura with 270 cows, 25 sheep, 5 horses, and various poultry, along with economic trees and crops like maize, millet, and sorghum.

Vehicles: One Mercedes-Benz, one Toyota Land Cruiser, and two cars purchased from his savings.

Financial Assets:  Approximately N30 million in his bank account, with no foreign bank accounts, oil wells, business stakes, shares, bonds, or private company ownership.

Compliance with Asset Declaration Law
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is responsible for overseeing asset declarations in Nigeria.

According to the Constitution, public officials must declare their assets and liabilities upon assuming office and upon leaving.

Buhari’s decision to publicly disclose his assets was seen as a move towards transparency, following in the footsteps of former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who also made his asset declaration public in 2007 ².