Groups Decry Media War Against Tinubu by Recalled Ambassadors to Nigeria 

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The actions of some Nigerian Ambassadors to stay back abroad after they were recalled by President Bola Tinubu has been described as a show of shame and tantamount to waging war on their employers.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday at the FCT NUJ Press Centre, Abuja, a coalition of support groups for President Tinubu, said the recall of the ambassadors was within the president’s prerogative and no ambassadors should have resorted to media war against the nation’s number one citizen.

The groups, Progressive Arewa Support Asiwaju/Shettima (led by its Director General, Ambassador Rabi Garba Dangizo), NAPC Progressives Women Network for Tinubu/Shettima (led by Hon. Charity Jabengo Egbe) and Asiwaju Progressive Forum and National Coordinator Tinubu National Think Tank (TNT), Ambassador Adewale Adeogun, in a jointly addressed conference said: “According to media reports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu using the powers conferred on him, in early September recalled serving ambassadors, representing Nigeria. 

“They were also given till the 31st of October 2023 to return to Nigeria. What was supposed to be a routine diplomatic process has turned into a campaign of calumny against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, government officials and symbols of the country. 

“We have called this press conference to register our dismay and outright displeasure on the uncharitable behaviour of a few that were chosen out of hundreds of millions to represent Nigeria. We, the Coalition of APC Political Support Groups for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wish to register the dismay of our members on this show of shame being exhibited by some recalled envoys.”

According to the groups, “Distinguished members of the press, based on our investigations into the matter, it is important to note that that these diplomatic officials who represent the topmost point of the pyramid of the exalted positions have not only engaged the country in a media war but have gone ahead to release documents that flout the Official Secrets Act. 

“These documents have found their ways into the media and digital media space. This action not only undermines the oath sworn to by the envoys, but it is also against the extant rules and regulations guiding public officials in Nigeria. Thereby making them knowingly committing an offence.

“Nigerians from all walks of life should remember, especially appointed public officials by the APC government should remember that we have no any other country to call ours other than Nigeria. As such, we must remain steadfast and support the government instead of derailing it with malicious publications, half-truths and outright misinformation. This caution also applies to those who will be appointed as ambassadors in the coming weeks, that they are first representatives of the Nigeria’s interests and Mr President in their country of residence.

“Consequently, according to our investigations, we have discovered that severance payments known as passages have been sent to the recalled envoys, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, this is verifiable information. Also they are well aware that severance payments in Nigeria and all over the world follow due diligence and other forms of bureaucracy before payments are received.  

“At this juncture, we must thank those envoys who have not only written to their host governments but have registered their return in Abuja. Most importantly, we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving these payments as a testimony to the appreciation of the work of the envoys to Nigeria.”

Speaking further, the groups said: “This orchestrated media war must end to protect the integrity of Mr President and sovereignty of Nigeria. The country is bigger than all of us.

“The general public is hereby advised to pay no heed to what is purely an administrative and procedural matter that has become the basis of misrepresentations in the media intended to undermine the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima. We the members of Coalition of APC Support Groups stand firmly with the APC-led government and hereby call for an end to actions tantamount to insubordination and disrespect of our country and symbols.”