By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated former presidential aide and social commentator, Reno Omokri, as one of 17 non-career ambassadors in the latest batch of diplomatic appointments sent to the Senate for confirmation.
Omokri, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political discourse and a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was listed alongside other high-profile nominees in the 32-man list transmitted to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Saturday.
His nomination marks a notable return to public service, given his years of advocacy, activism, and commentary on governance issues.
Omokri, who hails from Delta State, will join other non-career nominees including former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
If confirmed, the new ambassadors will be posted to countries where Nigeria maintains strong bilateral ties, such as China, India, Canada, the UAE, South Africa, and key multilateral missions like the United Nations and the African Union.
Tinubu’s letter to the Senate emphasized the need for “expeditious confirmation,” noting that the nominees would strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic representation globally.
Omokri’s inclusion has already sparked conversation across political circles, given his long-standing role as one of the most vocal critics of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before now and the sudden change of support for president Tinubu since the beginning of his administration.
His acceptance of the role is expected to draw public interest in the coming days.
The Senate is expected to begin screening the nominees soon, alongside the first set of three ambassadorial nominees submitted last week.
