Headline
Pendulum: Tributes to Olusegun Osoba and Nduka Obaigbena
Published
6 years agoon
By
Eric
By Dele Momodu
Fellow Nigerians, there is no way I can tell the stories of my life, my adventures and whatever I have achieved in journalism, without devoting substantial space to those who have been my inspiration. Two of them, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, are in their season of big celebrations as they enjoy landmark birthdays. Chief Osoba turns 80 on July 15 2019 whilst Nduka, or “The Duke” as he is more fondly known by close associates will be 60 on 14 July 2019. Although there is a twenty-year gap between them, and Chief Osoba is a revered grandfather of journalism in Nigeria, both of them share the same attribute of bestriding the journalism sphere like a colossus. Here’s a tribute to the two giants of journalism who have been a significant part of my trajectory and had a great influence on my development and establishment as a media personality.
My interaction with Nduka began almost as soon as my sojourn in Lagos started. I arrived Lagos in May 1988 to resume work as a Staff Writer at the African Concord magazine, owned by Chief Moshood Abiola. I had visited Lagos about a month earlier in search of a job. In those days travelling to Lagos was seemingly like travelling to England or America. We viewed Lagos like an Eldorado, paradise on earth! After a quick interview conducted by the Editor of the magazine, Mr Lewis Obi, I was offered a job on the spot. I requested for some time to go back to Ile-Ife, where I lived, to prepare for the new life.
During that visit to Lagos, I took time off to call on a few media organizations in the city. My four favourite organisations were The Guardian, The Concord, Newswatch and Thisweek magazine, owned by Nduka Obaigbena. At the time we were students at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), we had access to many publications. And we were voracious readers. We had our heroes in the media. They included Segun Osoba, Felix Adenaike, Peter Ajayi, Peter Enahoro, Dele Giwa, Doyin Aboaba (later Mrs Doyin Abiola), Yakubu Mohammed, Dan Agbese, Nduka Obaigbena, Sonala Olumhense, Dele Olojede, Amma Ogan, Stanley Macebuh, Folu Olamiti, Olatunji Dare, Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, Tunji Lardner Junior, Greg Obong Oshotse, May Ellen Ezekiel, Dare Babarinsa, Seyi Olu Awofeso, Odia Ofeimun, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Andy Akporugo, Nduka Irabor, Tunde Thompson, Taiwo Obe and others.
I was particularly delighted to visit the Thisweek offices at Ogunlana Drive in Surulere. This was a magazine that was determined to push Newswatch, the leading Nigeria weekly magazine of those days, aside. Thisweek was glossy and colourful. It was published in London and airlifted to Nigeria. I marvelled endlessly at the audacity of its Publisher and was even more surprised when I read somewhere that he was not yet 30 when he chose to take on the Newswatch behemoth by poaching some of the best journalists from the biggest media houses in Lagos. This was a man who was going places and attaining great heights and he was barely a year older than me. I felt truly humbled by his courage, boldness and dare devilry. I knew I had so much to learn from him.
My visit to Thisweek would turn out to be a future gamechanger for me. Lanre Idowu had introduced me to Nduka Obaigbena and described me as one of those troublesome writers from Ile-Ife, referring to my partner, Kunle Ajibade, with whom I had co-authored a controversial article that had gone viral. Nduka immediately warmed up to me. He led me into his office and instantly gave me an article to pen and paid me N100 for it. Let me say, N100 was big money in those good old days. I was elated. That was how we struck our friendship and we have never parted ways since then. Our relationship is truly surreal as we are almost like blood relations sharing a similar passion for excellence in journalism and the company of great men and women. I shall return to this.
I had some challenges when I returned to resume work in Lagos. The major problem was, of course, accommodation. I had to squat with different friends at various locations. Let me pull out the one most relevant to this story. I was staying with Segun and Funke Adegbesan in Adeniran Ajao Estate, by Anthony Village. Segun worked as a Lawyer at Gani Fawehinmi chambers very close to the house. That is another story for another day.
The main gist is that Segun had a music box that played cassettes. My favourite of them all was a release by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey in which he praised Olusegun Osoba to high heavens:
“Olusegun o, Olusegun o, omo Osoba, Omo Osoba, Akinrogun moba rode…
Abata pa, abata pa Osoba yii daraba Olusegun…
Awo Felix Adenaike, awo Peter Ajayi, awo Funlola Okunowo, awo Bukola Okunowo mi, ati Bade Ojora, omo Apasa mi…”
This song was like an elixir of life for me! I played it as soon as I woke up every morning and also at night before sleeping off. I had already heard fantastic stories about the awesome exploits and derring-do of this esteemed journalist called Segun Osoba and was determined to emulate him. My God, I tapped into the generous grace of this man called Osoba and prayed that God should grant me such as well. It became an obsession for me. You can now imagine what it must have been like meeting this legend in body and soul.

Our paths would cross many times in the future, but at that time I was a fledgling tyro journalist while he was an embodiment of the quintessential Nigerian journalist that we all strove to be. Osoba was a mantra I chanted regularly. I studied him like a book. And, I must say, my respect for him grew in leaps and bounds. Osoba was very close to my Chairman, Chief Moshood Abiola. From our first encounter, we fell in love with each other. Time and space would not allow me to write much. But I became his protege. What I admired most in him was his extensive network of friends and associates and how he found time for almost everyone. I wished to acquire such level of experience and exposure.
His foray into politics was another remarkable aspect of his life. He was the prototype who proved that journalists could aspire to be anything that they wanted. There was style and class in Journalism and both Osboa and Nduka symbolise this. While Osoba took the world of journalism by storm, what he did in politics was even bigger. He went on to become Governor of Ogun State after only a short stint in politics. He was as dynamic in politics as he had been in journalism. I was not very surprised by his conquests and giant strides. His suaveness and impeccability were such that his successes were assured in whatever he touched. His impact on Ogun State was short-lived because of the June 12 debacle.
As if by divine coincidence, I went to visit Chief Osoba in Abeokuta during the June 12 crisis. This must have been on July 21, 1995 because the biggest drama of my life started on July 22, the day after. I therefore have poignant memories of that day. Chief Osoba and I discussed the impasse that June 12 had become, but we were not prepared for what happened next. He was a strong Abiola supporter who stood for justice. When it became necessary, he realised that the fight had become an external one, as well, he left Nigeria and tried to use his friends in the international media to bring our plight to the fore and ask for both. I never envisaged the monumental surprise that awaited me in Lagos when I returned from Abeokuta. I ran into my wife on my way home and she broke the news to me. Some gentlemen had found their way to my flat in Ojodu. Apparently, they had picked up Intelligence that I was going to be arrested and detained as one of the suspected brains behind Radio Freedom which later metamorphosed into Radio Kudirat. So, I was advised to take cover and disappear into thin air. That was it. I never planned to live outside Nigeria.
I managed to escape Nigeria through the Seme bush and meandered my way via Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana until I landed in London. Meanwhile, Chief Osoba was facing his own ordeal back home. He was being harassed by the Abacha government. He eventually found his way to London. For both of us. London was too cold blooded. I visited him regularly and we walked a lot around his neighbourhood in the Swiss Cottage and St. John’s Wood area of London.
On June 8, 1998, some people woke me up with what I considered to be the rumours of General Sani Abacha’s death. I promptly dismissed these stories as untrue and impossible and went back to sleep. Abacha was just literarily larger than life and I could not comprehend news of his death. The call I got from Chief Osoba changed all that. I thought to myself, how on earth can Chief Osoba believe Abacha could ever die, but he insisted his sources were credible and that was it. The rest is history. We remained even closer since then.
I joined so many Nigerians to celebrate Chief Osoba at the launch of his book last Monday and, as always, Chief Osoba sparkled brilliantly like a million stars. The book BATTLELINES was written to commemorate his 80th birthday which comes up in a couple of days. My warm and hearty congratulations to him.
Back to my very dear friend and Brother, Nduka Obaigbena. From 1988 to date, we have come a long way together, through thick and thin. He has really touched my life in many ways. As he clocks 60 years, I’m proud to be associated with him and I raise a toast to one of the most daring, intelligent, hardworking and flamboyant journalists Nigeria has ever produced. It is fitting to celebrate him with Chief Osoba because they are of the same cloth, the same ilk! It is difficult to find a Publisher like this exceptionally gifted man, we call the Duke.
Nduka taught me so many things. In 1991, he cleared the way for me to obtain visas with ease as a journalist of repute. In 1992, he invited me to midwife what is today known as Thisday newspapers and bought me a brand new Peugeot. In 1992, he travelled all the way to Ijebu-Ode for my wedding. In 1993, we supported two different Presidential candidates. I supported Moshood Abiola while he supported Bashir Tofa. On June 14, 1993, after I departed Vienna where I had gone to represent Chief Abiola at the Bruno Kreisky Awards won by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, I made a call to Nduka from London, to let him know that I had arrived and discuss the turbulent, suspensory political situation in Nigeria. I received the rudest shock of my life when he gave me an inkling of the annulment to come. I told him it was impossible, but it turned out that Nduka was right as usual. He has such incredible sources!
Nduka and I found ourselves at some point in exile in London. We had our offices on Kilburn High Road. We were together in his apartment in West London with Tokunbo Afikuyomi two days before Chief Abiola died on July 7, 1998. He returned to Nigeria and turned Thisday into the formidable media empire and conglomerate that it has now become.
Nduka loves his friends dearly. He has been too kind to me, and I have only just mentioned a few instances. He never fails to acknowledge my humble contribution to the birth of one of Africa’s most influential newspapers as a Founding Editor.
He has suffered greatly for his daredevil approach to journalism, but he has remained unbowed and unmoved in the face of massive intimidation. He has always overcome! Nduka has managed to remain a dominant force and recently forayed into electronic media with the Arise News Channel. Within a short time, Arise has become one of the most authoritative news channels in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. Well done Nduka. I applaud you. You deserve all the plaudits.
60 hearty cheers to the Duke himself …
Related
You may like
Headline
Breaking: FG Secures Release of 100 Pupils of Saint Mary’s School
Published
23 hours agoon
December 7, 2025By
Eric
By Eric Elezuo
The Federal government has announced the release of 100 pupils of Saint Mary’s School, Papiri, Niger State.
According reports monitored on Channels Television on Sunday, only 100 out of the about 250 pupils in the captivity of the terrorists were released.
Details soon…
Related
Headline
Atiku Abubakar @79: Celebrating a True Statesman + Dele Momodu’s Inspiring Tribute
Published
1 week agoon
November 29, 2025By
Eric
By Eric Elezuo
The rich cultural border town of Jada in Adamawa State, Nigeria, came briskly alive during the week, when trusted colleagues and associates, party bigwigs and immediate family members, trooped in to honour a man, whose legacies of political sagacity and entrepreneurial wizardry have become a reference point, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as he celebrates his 79th birthday.
With fanfare, razzmatazz and deep-rooted joy, the about-to-become-octogenarian hosted a week-long soiree rooted in legit discourse, high profile networking and philanthropy for all and sundry.
Known for his near-impeccable public service image, Atiku is revered as the Midas of our time, converting almost nothing to something of immense value.

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, once described the invincibility of the Wazirin Adamawa as follows:
1. Give him pure water and he’ll turn it into Farro water
2. Show him a Primary school and he’ll turn it into a world class univeristy
3. Show him a jetty and he’ll turn it into a world class port
4. Give him a bull and a heifer and just few years and he ll give you a herd
5. Give him a bag of chaff and he’ll mill it into animal feed
6. Give him a bottle of bala blue and he’ll turn the cream to farro juice
7. Give him a home and he’ll bring Nigeria into it as family members
8. Make him walk into an environment where there is contention and fight and see how they fade into peace.
From the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Yola Airport in Adamawa State, heartfelt accolades from supporters trailed every movement of the vice president, who absorbed all with equanimity, acknowledging greetings with finesse and humility, stopping at regular intervals for a deep hug and claspy handshake that says more friendship and camaraderie.

The grand finale of the activities was held at the Atiku Family Event Hall in Jada with a well-attended Commemoration Lecture that drew dignitaries and admirers including political associates, mentees, members of the diplomatic corps and many others from far and wide. Though it was meant to be an in-house celebration, it drew together distinct policy makers and more.
From one distinguished speaker to another, soul striking lectures and goodwill messages were delivered including tributes aimed at extolling the stateman-like qualities of His Excellency.

It is instructive to note that Atiku, as he is easily recognized, is not just another politician; he is exceptionally versatile as a detribalised, prolific entrepreneur and a practitioner of politics without bitterness. It is not a wonder therefore that he has excelled in politics, public service, and entrepreneurship, most especially.
It was in the notes of the one of the keynote speakers, Chief Dele Momodu, that the underlying greatness, humane qualities and more of Atiku Abubakar were laid bare before public scrutiny.
Momodu, in a lecture he titled Alhaji Atiku Abubakar: The Consumate Democrat, took the audience down memory lane as he highlighted the uncommon humility the Waziri Adamawa demonstrated when he stepped down for MKO Abiola in 1993.
The details of Chief Momodu’s speech are as follows:
ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR: THE CONSUMMATE DEMOCRAT

It gives me great pleasure, and I consider it a privilege, to have been invited to speak about one of the greatest Nigerians alive today. There’s no way I would have turned down this request.
Just last week, I was invited to a roundtable meeting at the British House of Lords in London, also at the behest of Alhaji ATIKU ABUBAKAR. I wish to offer my sincere gratitude to ALHAJI for his confidence in me and his demonstration of love for me at all times.
My earliest recollection of Alhaji was wayback in 1993, in the beautiful city of Jos, where three political gladiators, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Chief Moshood Abiola had locked horns in a world heavyweight bout to decide who picks the Presidential ticket of the Social Democratic Party. I was barely 32/33 at that time but I was politically savvy and heavily inspired and motivated by my adopted father, Chief Moshood Abiola.

The SDP primary of that year remains unprecedented till this day. I will not bore you with details of the Convention that brought these juggernauts into a three horse race, which only one of them can, and must win. But there was a logjam and the only way a winner could have emerged was for one of them to step down and quit the race. This was a tough decision for all of them.
Alhaji Babagana Kingibe enjoyed the avuncular support of most of the SDP Governors. Alhaji Atiku had access to the extensive networks of his mentor Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. The Abiola team calculated well and smartly by reaching out to the godfather pronto. The incredible then happened. Without much ado, Alhaji stepped down and thus cleared the coast for the eventual victory of my adopted father, Chief Moshood Abiola. Since then, unknown to Alhaji Atiku, I have been his big fan. Alhaji did not throw tantrums or sulk endlessly like a baby. He did not seek to destroy their party. Not that he didn’t have enough reasons to be angry and bitter but he chose the path of uncommon equanimity and submitted himself to the immutable will of Allah at His appointed time.

What could have made matters worse, Alhaji Atiku failed to clinch the runningmate slot, against conventional wisdom of give and take. Again, Alhaji Atiku went back to his drawing board, and about his life peacefully without raining a tirade of insults against distinguished elders who have paid their dues to our country. Even when he had the opportunity to retaliate after the June 12 debacle, Alhaji followed a path of honor by supporting Chief Abiola, unconditionally, and for the revalidation of his mandate. Alhaji Atiku is not your common politician.
As fate would have it, he later contested the Governorship election in his home state and won. But before settling down to his Gubernatorial assignments, he was invited to be the Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He would soon become the most effective and influential Vice President ever in Nigeria. As the head of the economic team, he was able to attract and work with the best and brightest. The gentleman’s agreement was that he would Vice for the office of the President after one term, but again he was let down. He could have fought tooth and nail against his Boss, President Olusegun OBASANJO but he chose the path of absolute peace and patience. But his boss was unhappy that Alhaji and his friends ever challenged him. President OBASANJO went after them like bullets. And there were collateral damages here and there. Several of my friends in Alhaji’s office at the Presidential villa were summarily sacked.

I must confess that I have never seen a man like Alhaji before. He takes everything in his strides. Most politicians would have brought down the rooftops. His faith in Allah is unshakable. What should have been to his glory eventually became his albatross. But Allah compensated with extraordinary favor as a businessman. While his peers became parasites feeding fat on the State, Alhaji became King Midas and most businesses he touched turned to gold. Though he never abandoned his political dreams, he pursued his ambition with visionary clarity and painstaking discipline. He never engaged in violence. He rather invested unrelentingly in the rule of Law. Whenever he contested and he felt robbed of victory, he headed to the courts of the land. Many of his landmark cases have since enriched our jurisprudence and legal lexicon. He has remained a tireless fighter and defender of the rights of the common man.
It is a tragedy that such a man of sharp intellect and prodigious talents has been endlessly maligned in the name of politics.

It must be noted that many of our political icons had suffered similar persecution in the past. My sad conclusion is that when we refuse to encourage good people, the worst amongst us will continue to thrive.
I make bold to declare my maximum respect for ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR as a great man of ideas and ideals, a peacemaker, man of God, blessed family man, absolutely detribalised, very cosmopolitan, well educated, versatile, humble in spirit, unpretentious, experienced and exposed. He is without doubt a man of diversity and destiny. May Allah preserve him for the benefit of all us because in the days of tribulations, kids must run to the elders of the house. No one else is better prepared for this role at this auspicious moment.
Please, let’s all rise and give a standing ovation to a leader who has refused to give up on his goals…

Other speekers, who eulogized the celebrant in goodwill messages were former Adamawa Governor Jibrilla Bindow, Senator Ishaku Abbo, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, Senator Abdulaziz Nyako and several others.
In his traditional soft-spoken nature, Atiku expressed gratitude to all attendees, with special appreciation to the organizers, and special mention of Prof. Ahmed Shehu (Pullo Jada) for their dedicated efforts to ensure the smooth sailing of the event.
THE MAN ATIKU ABUBAKAR

Below is brief history of the former Vice President as told by himself –
I was born on the 25th of November 1946 in Jada village, Adamawa State Like many of my generation, my father was opposed to Western education and tried to keep me out of school. When the government discovered this, my father spent a few days in jail. I was then enrolled in Jada primary school.
When I was only 11 years old, my father drowned and died while trying to cross a small river. The task of raising me then fell on my mother. At that age I resolved to work hard, remain focused and be successful in life to make my her proud. In 1960, I was admitted to Adamawa Provincial Secondary School in Yola.
Academically, I did well in English Language and Literature but I struggled with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. I spent most holidays working to earn extra money. In 1961, when I was 15 years old, my mother’s elder brother sold the family house in Jada without her knowledge and rendered us homeless. I spent that holiday working and from my earnings, I bought a house for my mother in Ganye. I became an orphan when my mother suffered a heart attack and died in 1984.

Post Secondary School
I graduated from secondary school in 1965. After that, I studied at the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna for a short while. I left when I was unable to present an O-Level Mathematics result. I worked briefly as a Tax Officer in the regional Ministry of Finance, from where I gained admission to the School of Hygiene in Kano in 1966.
I graduated with a Diploma in 1967, having served as Interim Student Union President at the School. In 1967 I enrolled for a Law Diploma at the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration, on a scholarship from regional government. After graduation in 1969, I was employed by the Nigerian Customs Service.
Family
I met nineteen year old Titilayo Albert when I was serving at Idiroko, Lagos, and in December 1971 I married her secretly, because her family was initially opposed to the union. On 26 October 1972, Titi delivered a baby girl and we named her Fatima. Titi later gave birth to Adamu, Halima and Aminu.
In January 1979 I married Ladi Yakubu as my second wife. I wanted to expand the Abubakar family. I had no siblings and I felt extremely lonely as a child. I did not want my children to feel that way.
This is why I married more than one wife. My wives are my sisters, my friends, and my advisers and they complement one another. Ladi gave birth to Abba, Atiku, Zainab, Ummi-Hauwa, Maryam and Rukayatu.

In 1983 the late Lamido of Adamawa who had become like my father made me the Turaki of Adamawa. This position was usually reserved for one of the Emir’s favorite sons and was rarely given to non-royals like me. To ensure that I met the ‘blood tie’ requirement for the title, the Lamido gave me one of his daughters, Princess Rukaiyat, to marry.
She gave birth to Aisha, Hadiza, Aliyu, Asmau, Mustafa, Laila and Abdulsalam. I married Fatima Shettima in 1986. She gave birth to Amina (Meena), Mohammed and two sets of twins Ahmed and Shehu, Zainab and Aisha and then Hafsat. Jennifer Jamila Atiku-Abubakar is my last wife. She gave birth to Abdulmalik, Zara and my youngest child, Faisal.

Customs
My Customs career commenced on 30 June 1969. My first posting was at Idi-Iroko, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic. My other assignments included the Lagos Airport, Apapa Ports (1974), Ibadan Customs Command (1975), Kano Command (1976), Maiduguri (Area Comptroller, 1977), Kaduna (1980) and the Apapa Ports in 1982.
In April 1984, when I was the Murtala Muhammed Airport Area Administrator, my name was associated with a scandal that made headlines. As part of efforts to cripple corrupt politicians who had stashes of stolen cash in their possession, the new military government had phased out the old naira currency and replaced it with new ones. Orders had been given to ensure that all luggage entering the country was properly screened to prevent smuggling of the old notes. The Emir of Gwangu and Ambassador Dahiru Waziri had arrived from Saudi Arabia with many suitcases. As is customary, the suitcases were supposed to pass through Custom officers for check but the Emir’s son, who was a Major in the Army and also ADC to Head of State Gen Buhari drove straight to the Tarmac with soldiers, off-loaded the suitcases there, picked up his father and the Ambassador and drove away. The soldiers had threatened to shoot the Custom officers who had protested and tried to stop them. My officers reported in writing to me and I in turn reported the incidence to my boss, the Director of Customs. A few days later, one of the officers leaked the story to Guardian Newspapers and their correspondent called me to confirm if it was true. I did.

Soon after, Newspaper Headlines read, “Passenger with 53 suitcases leaves airport unchecked”. This scandal embarrassed the government and they tried to make me deny it happened. I refused and they threatened to throw me out of service. The Minister of Finance then, Soleye, who oversaw the Customs Service played a big role in ensuring I wasn’t dismissed. He had said it would be unfair to punish me for being honest and standing by my officers.
In 1987 I was promoted to Deputy Director of Customs and Excise in charge of Enforcement and Drugs. In April 1989, when I was 43, I voluntarily retired from Customs after 20 years of meritorious service.
Business
I’ve always had a good nose for business. In my early years as a Customs officer, I received a 31,000 naira Housing Loan, built a bungalow in Yola, and rented it out. With the rent I collected in advance, I bought a second plot and built another house. I continued building new houses with rent from completed ones and after a few years I had built 8 houses in choice areas in Yola. When I was transferred to Kaduna, I continued this process and in a few years I had 5 houses there.
In 1981, I moved into agriculture. I became the largest maize farmer in the whole of Gongola state. Unfortunately, due to Government policies that increased the cost of production, the business fell on hard times and closed in 1986.

The most successful business I ever ventured into was with Gabrielle Volpi, an Italian businessman. He intimated me about how profitable Oil and Gas Logistics business could be and, trusting his abilities, I partnered with him to form NICOTES which started operating from a container office at Apapa ports.
When the business began to grow, we relocated to Onne, Rivers State. The company, now known as INTELS (Integrated and Logistics Services) is a multi-billion naira company that has a staff of over 15,000 people and pays huge dividends to its shareholders. My other businesses include agriculture, feed making, plastics, printing, TV/radio media, and beverages.
Politics
I met Shehu Musa Yar’Adua towards the end of my Customs career. He invited me to the political meetings that were happening regularly in his Lagos home; and that was how my foray into politics began.
In 1989 the political meetings became Peoples Front of Nigeria and I was elected as the National Vice- Chairman.
We wish the Wazirin Adamawa a happy birthday, and many fruitful years ahead!
Related
Headline
Season of Compensations: Tinubu Submits 32 Ambassadorial Nominees to Senate
Published
1 week agoon
November 29, 2025By
Eric
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, days after he sent the first batch of three names.
Bayo Onanuga, media aide to President Tinubu made this known in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, President Tinubu, in two separate letters to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors.
Onanuga stated that there are four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.
The statement reads, “Among the non-career ambassador designates are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
“Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.
“Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State.
“Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are: Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
“The other nominees are Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kawara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
“The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.
“Last week, President Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation. The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon.”
Related


FirstBank Elephant Girls Win in Zone 3, Qualify for WBLA Final Round
CPC: Ribadu Holds Security Talks with US Delegates in Abuja
Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Request to Be Transfered Out of Sokoto Prison
Sunny Irakpo Launches SILEC International Magazine in America
How Tinubu Helped to Crush Military Coup in Benin Republic – Presidency
2025: UBA Group Dominates, Wins Banker Awards, Emerges Africa’s Bank of the Year, Third Time in Five Years
Ozekhome, Wife Josephine, Celebrate 34 Years of Marital Bliss
US Moves to Impose Visa Restrictions on Sponsors, Supporters of Violence in Nigeria
Atiku Abubakar Remains Only Person Tinubu Govt is Afraid Of – Dele Momodu (Full Interview)
Davido Hails Uncle, Gov Adeleke on Resignation from PDP
Open Letter to Global Leadership: Forging New Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainable Governance
Olubukola Adubi: Entrepreneurial Amazon of Immeasurable Value
Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model
Alleged Christian Genocide: US Lawmakers Fault Tinubu’s Govt
Trending
-
World5 days agoUS Moves to Impose Visa Restrictions on Sponsors, Supporters of Violence in Nigeria
-
Featured4 days agoAtiku Abubakar Remains Only Person Tinubu Govt is Afraid Of – Dele Momodu (Full Interview)
-
Featured5 days agoDavido Hails Uncle, Gov Adeleke on Resignation from PDP
-
Uncategorized2 days agoOpen Letter to Global Leadership: Forging New Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainable Governance
-
Boss Of The Week4 days agoOlubukola Adubi: Entrepreneurial Amazon of Immeasurable Value
-
Opinion5 days agoRedefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model
-
USA5 days agoAlleged Christian Genocide: US Lawmakers Fault Tinubu’s Govt
-
Economy5 days agoCBN Increases ATM Daily Cash Withdrawal Limit to N100k

