President Bola Tinubu has reportedly proposed an ambassadorial appointment for Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in an African country, sparking discontent from the former Kano State Governor.
According to sources, Tinubu initially tasked Senate President Godswill Akpabio with delivering the news to Ganduje as a way to shield him from the ongoing corruption trial he faces in Kano. The trial, which involves his wife, son, and others, relates to corruption charges exceeding ₦50 billion, tied to a public scandal from 2018 involving bribe videos.
Despite the offer, Ganduje is said to have expressed his dissatisfaction, rejecting the proposed posting by claiming that the charges against him are baseless and asserting that he would clear his name in court. “Is this the way the president will reward my loyalty? Besides, I am too old to go for ambassadorial posting,” Ganduje reportedly responded to Akpabio.
President Tinubu reportedly offered Ganduje three diplomatic options across Africa, Asia, and Europe, with a preference for appointing him as Nigeria’s ambassador to Chad, a region where Ganduje has prior experience as the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission from 2009 to 2011.
However, Ganduje’s preference is rumored to be Morocco over Chad, should he be forced to accept the position. The former governor is allegedly lobbying to maintain his current role, voicing his displeasure to APC chieftain Chief Bisi Akande about what he perceives as an attempt by the president to “retire” him from politics.
In a related development, Tinubu also approved the scheduling of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and a mid-term non-elective national convention for the APC, slated between September 8 and 19, 2024. Ganduje’s spokesman, Edwin Olofu, confirmed the NEC meeting’s scheduling but stated he was unaware of any ambassadorial appointment for his boss.
