Former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the prolonged delay in appointing ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions, accusing him of running the country like a “private WhatsApp group.”
In a statement shared via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Onochie expressed frustration over the failure to name replacements for Nigerian ambassadors nearly two years after they were recalled in September 2023.
“Nearly two years later, Nigeria is still without Ambassadors. A strategist who doesn’t know that Nigeria needs Ambassadors to relate with the rest of the world is running Nigeria like a private WhatsApp group,” she wrote.
Onochie, who previously served as Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari, further alleged that President Tinubu appears more interested in cultivating ties with less strategically significant countries such as St. Lucia and Kazakhstan.
“He prefers to relate to St. Lucia and Kazakhstan, where he can be idolised and worshipped for the right price,” she added.
Her remarks have sparked renewed debate about Nigeria’s global diplomatic standing, with critics highlighting the growing vacuum in the country’s foreign policy representation. Ambassadors play a vital role in advancing national interests, fostering international cooperation, and managing bilateral relationships.
Since the mass recall of ambassadors, many of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions have been operating without substantive heads, raising concerns among foreign policy analysts and international partners.
As of press time, the Presidency has not issued an official response to Onochie’s comments.
