Presidency Withdraws Dakingari’s Posting as Ambassador-Designate to Turkey

 

The presidency has withdrawn the posting of Usman Dakingari, former governor of Kebbi State, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey, less than 24 hours after announcing a list of ambassadorial postings.

Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, had on Thursday night, in a now-deleted post on his X page, announced that President Bola Tinubu approved the posting of four ambassadors-designate from among more than 60 nominees confirmed by the senate last December.

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According to the earlier announcement, Kayode Are, former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), was appointed ambassador-designate to the United States; Ayodele Oke, former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was posted to France; Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, was named high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; while Dakingari was appointed ambassador-designate to Turkey.

Dakingari’s posting was announced ahead of President Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.

However, in a statement issued on Friday by the State House, Onanuga said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.

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The statement reaffirmed the postings of Are, Oke and Dalhatu, but omitted Dakingari’s appointment, effectively withdrawing it.

No reason was given for the change.

Onanuga added that President Tinubu has written to the ministry of foreign affairs to notify the governments of the three countries of the appointments, in line with established diplomatic procedures.