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Tinubu makes u-turn, withdraws Ambassadorial posting to Turkey
The presidency has withdrawn the posting of Usman Dakingari, a former governor of Kebbi State, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, less than 24 hours after the announcement of new ambassadorial postings.
The decision was confirmed on Thursday night in a statement issued by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who said President Bola Tinubu approved the posting of only four ambassadors-designate from the list of over 60 nominees earlier confirmed by the Senate in December.
According to the statement, the president approved the appointment of Kayode Are, a former director-general of the Department of State Services, as Nigeria’s 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 appointed high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; while Dakingari was made ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Dakingari’s appointment came ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.
But in a statement released Friday by the State House, Onanuga said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.
The statement reiterated the postings of Are, Oke, and Dalhatu, and omitted Dakingari’s now-rescinded appointment.
The presidency did not give a reason for the change.
Onanuga said Tinubu has written a memo to the ministry of foreign affairs to notify the governments of the three countries about the ambassadors-designate, in accordance with diplomatic procedures.

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