Bola Akinterinwa, the former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), has expressed his lack of surprise regarding the active lobbying by state governors, former ministers, and political associates of President Bola Tinubu for ambassadorial appointments.
Akinterinwa cited diplomatic protection and a desire to maintain immunity, particularly for those facing corruption charges, as key motivations for seeking such positions.
In an interview with The Punch, Akinterinwa revealed that individuals with corruption charges see ambassadorial roles as a means of securing continued protection after leaving their public service posts. He pointed out that diplomatic protection, as outlined in the 1961 Vienna Convention and private international law, is viewed as a safeguard by those seeking to extend their immunity.
The former NIIA boss also highlighted the inclination of politicians to seek titles and recognition in Nigeria. He argued that the practice of awarding ambassadorial positions to political allies should be discontinued, emphasizing that the Foreign Service should not be treated similarly to the civil service.
“There are many reasons why people lobby to be ambassadors. For instance, those who have corruption charges want continued protection after they leave service; they call it diplomatic protection, and this is of two types, as provided in the 1961 Vienna Convention and as provided by private international law. People complained when the service chiefs under former President Muhammadu Buhari were considered for ambassadorial positions,” Akinterinwa stated during the interview.
He further pointed out that former governors, who still enjoy immunity during their tenure, see ambassadorial appointments as a way to extend their protection for another four years after leaving office. Akinterinwa urged President Tinubu to reconsider the practice of offering special considerations to political associates, emphasizing that Nigerian politicians need to prioritize national survival over self-survival.
“The problem with Nigerian politicians is that they are more interested in self-survival than national survival, and there are many cases to illustrate that,” Akinterinwa concluded, shedding light on the broader challenges within the political landscape.
