A public affairs analyst, Olufemi Ibitoye, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to urgently appoint ambassadors across Nigeria’s foreign missions, stressing that the move is critical to strengthening the nation’s diplomatic presence and shaping international perception ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an open letter addressed to the President, Ibitoye warned that leaving key diplomatic posts vacant or under the management of lower-ranking chargé d’affaires undermines Nigeria’s influence on the global stage, particularly at a time when international attention on the country’s political climate is expected to heighten.
“As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the political atmosphere in Nigeria will intensify, and international perception will become a battleground of its own,” Ibitoye wrote. “Regardless of how credible the process may be, opposition figures locally and internationally will challenge the legitimacy of outcomes. Ambassadors, therefore, play a crucial role in managing narratives and representing Nigeria’s official position before foreign governments and institutions.”
Highlighting the importance of strong diplomatic representation within organizations such as the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and the Commonwealth, as well as strategic bilateral partners like the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany, the analyst argued that ambassadors are “the President’s personal representatives, vested with the full faith and credit of the Nigerian state.”
He further urged the President to appoint “credible, articulate, and competent individuals who not only understand diplomacy but also the stakes of national political stability,” adding that such appointments would help consolidate Tinubu’s *Renewed Hope* agenda and prevent a “narrative vacuum” in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
“Your Renewed Hope agenda has inspired institutional and international confidence. Let us now complement that agenda with a renewed diplomatic front,” Ibitoye concluded.
