Another Ambassadorial Nominee From Katsina Rejects Buhari's Appointment

An ambassadorial nominee from Katsina state, Usman Bugaje, has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment.

Earlier, Pauline Tallen, former deputy governor of Plateau state, also turned down the appointment. 

Though Tallen declared her decision to reject the nomination in public, Mr Bugaje was persuaded by top government officials not to mention his decision in the media. 

The female ambassadorial nominee had rejected her appointment on the grounds that there was no “proper consultation”. She had also clarified that her decision was done in fairness to other parts of the state. 

Meanwhile, Simon Lalong, Plateau state governor, praised Tallen for her decision. “Pauline is an astute politician from my state, and part of the issue we also raised was on some of the appointments that were made,” he said. 

“So, all the states that had complaints are going to put it in writing and the president promised he is going to look into it.” 

“Well, it is not only about her husband; I think is the dimension of plateau politics because I had already made complaints to Mr President that appointments should not be concentrated in one zone.
“And so, all these appointments came again from one zone, in that particular zone. 

So the complaints that are coming from our state is not about her own personal interest; it is the fact that two ambassadorial appointments are coming from the same zone.” 

President Buhari has sent the names of 46 persons to the Senate for confirmation as Ambassadors. The Senate president Bukola Saraki read the president’s letter on the nominees on October 20.