Presidency Withdraws Dakingari’s Ambassadorial Posting to Turkey Within 24 Hours
The Presidency has withdrawn the ambassadorial posting of former Kebbi State Governor, Usman Dakingari, to Turkey less than 24 hours after his appointment was officially announced, in a move that has raised questions over the federal government’s diplomatic nomination process.
A statement issued on Thursday had confirmed four ambassadorial designations, including Dakingari’s posting to Turkey, alongside Kayode Are to the United States, Ayodele Oke to France, and Amin Dalhatu to the United Kingdom.
However, in a surprising reversal, a follow-up statement released on Friday by the Presidency listed only the three other nominees and explicitly stated that “no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.” The revised announcement made no reference to Dakingari and offered no explanation for the sudden withdrawal of his nomination.
The abrupt turnaround has sparked speculation about possible internal vetting lapses or last-minute political considerations within the appointment process. Observers note that such a swift reversal is unusual in high-level diplomatic postings, which typically undergo extensive background checks and consultations before public disclosure.
The development also creates immediate diplomatic uncertainty, particularly as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to undertake a state visit to Turkey next week, a trip expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations, trade, and security cooperation between both countries.
Analysts say the absence of a designated ambassador to Turkey at such a critical moment could affect preparatory diplomatic engagements, although Nigeria’s foreign missions are expected to continue routine operations through career officials.
Beyond the immediate diplomatic implications, the episode has renewed public debate over the transparency, criteria, and finality of ambassadorial appointments under the current administration. Critics argue that unexplained reversals risk undermining confidence in the nomination process, while others caution against drawing conclusions without official clarification.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has not provided further details on the reason for the withdrawal or whether a new nominee for the Turkish posting will be announced.