THE recent show of shame by a shadowy group called Mandate for National Values and Integrity in Nigeria (MNVIN) sponsored by Ambassador Ominiyi Nwannebuike Eze and his cohorts has made me once again to pick up my pen and address the issue of the recall of ambassadors. Ambassador Eze cannot even argue or deny that he is not the sponsor of the recent attacks on President Tinubu, governmental officials and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He may choose to deny, but like it is stated in Genesis 27:21-23 King James Version (KJV) the voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. It has all the hallmarks of his notoriety and desperation, since he turned the mundane issue of recall into a self serving agenda. What a shame. If you ask me.
Diplomats are usually measured individuals, going about their lives with tact according to the diplomatic protocols of their training. However, Ominyi Nwannebuike Eze the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Zambia, also self appointed dean of non career ambassadors is not one such individual; being a non career ambassador (not that there are not excellent none career ambassadors, there are) but the likes of Ominiyi N Eze have brought the trade of diplomacy into disrepute by their uncountable infractions at the missions they were sent to serve.
Never in the history of the Foreign Service has a routine diplomatic procedure been turned into a media war, with outright lies, half truths and disinformation.
The greatest tragedy in all of this is the embarrassment the so called dean of non career Ambassadors has caused the nation, especially President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the commander in chief of armed forces. By blatantly refusing to return like his colleagues have honorably done, he has by this singular action undermined the authority of the President and no doubt he will pay dearly for this in no time.
The worse outcome of his actions and inactions is the fact that he has put other non career individuals awaiting ambassadorial appointments into jeopardy, the popular opinion amongst foreign service officers now is that this is the outcome when you appoint non career diplomats as ambassadors. They simple refuse to obey foreign service rules and honor their obligations and attendant commitments.
Long before now there have been financial infractions in the Zambia Mission were the diplomat turned rogue held sway, monies have allegedly gone missing, uncounted for running into thousands of dollars, administrative roles have been usurped where he is both Head of Mission and head of chancery by appointing his lackeys and often times straight out puppets as HoCs in order to control the strings of the purse of the mission.
Such a morally bankrupt character like Eze does not have the moral platform on which he is currently grandstanding, especially for someone that made the lowly position of a third Secretary as head of chancery, what greater action can scream usurpation more than this.
Eze should note that President Tinubu does not owe him an extension nor the courtesy of what he has enjoyed since May 29th 2023, other Presidents before him did not even spare their envoys this courtesy of allowing them in office several months after being sworn in as Presidents.
If I were Ambassador Eze, I will hop on the next available flight out of Lusaka, to enjoy my post mission time with my family and friends, instead of paying charlatans to write spurious press releases for few clicks. A word is enough for a diplomat turned rogue.
Adejoh writes from the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos.
