Nigerian ambassadors not recalled —Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied the recall of ambassadors by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A spokesperson for the ministry, Ogbole Ode, said that the recall never happened as the ministry has no knowledge of such incident.

He said he spoke with the permanent secretary of the ministry who confirmed the news was a mere rumour.

He blamed social media and online news forums for carrying such information that do not emanate from the government.

There was a news report over the weekend that President Muhammadu Buhari had recalled Nigerian ambassadors.

According to the report, which first appeared in the traditional media, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity had confirmed the news.

But Ode said the reports were all false.

It would be recalled that some newspapers at the weekend had reported that President Buhari sacked all ambassadors appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

They were said to have been recalled home Friday night by the president after three years of service abroad.

Topping the list of envoys said to have been disengaged are a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe (Canada); chairman of the Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2011 election, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida (UK); Professor Ade Adefuye (USA); widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca (Spain); and former deputy governor of Oyo State, Mr. Taofeek Arapaja (Jordan).

Others include a former aviation minister, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze (Switzerland); ex-General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan, Mr. Yemi Farounbi (Philippines); a one-time governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Olatokunbo Kamson (Jamaica); a PDP front liner in Ondo State, Mr. Cornelius Oluwateru (UAE); Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Bunu (Saudi Arabia); a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Benue State, Mr. Chive Kaave (Argentina); a former financial secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Tukur Mani (Iran); and former permanent secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi (Namibia).

Also on the list are Chief Asam Asam (SAN) (Russia); Mr. Okwudili Nwosu (Burundi); Mr. Okeke Chukwuemeka (Vatican); Mr. Eric Aworahbi (Italy); Dauda Danladi (Pakistan); and Mrs. Katherine Okon (Czeck Republic); Mr. Nwofe Alexander; Princess Victoria Bosede Onipede (Republic of Congo); Senator Haruna Garba (Kuwait); Mrs. Nonye Rajis-Okpara (Singapore); Chief Eddy Onuoha (Hungary); Mr. Adamu Babangida Ibrahim (Syria); Dr. Sam Jimba (Poland). They were among the 93 envoys posted out in June 2012