Last Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs began the screening of the ambassadorial nominees picked by President Muhammadu Buhari. However, a drama played out when three out of the 15 screened failed to answer simple questions put to them by the committee.
The nominee from Anambra state, Vivian Okeke, failed in her singing of the National Anthem by omitting 11 words in the last stanza – “…to serve with heart and might, one nation bound in freedom” – before ending with peace and unity.
Ibrahim Isa from Niger state also fumbled with the National Pledge by rendering “…to defend her unity and integrity. So help me God” instead of to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory. So help me God.
The most embarrassing of this exhibition of poor knowledge of the country was showcased by Jane Ndem from Benue state. When asked a kindergarten’s question by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, to name the 36 states of the federation and their capitals, the nominee on mentioning 12 states, gave Lagos as the capital of Lagos state. A member of the committee, Senator James Manager, was dismayed by her response.
But Jane sank deeper into her depth of ignorance by saying “yes, the capital of Lagos state is Lagos because I even started my working career there”. Her lack of knowledge which threw the 8-member committee into laughter goes to show the much-perceived lack of interest in reading which is currently seen as a cancer that has eaten deeper into our national fabric than imagined.
Certainly, the inability of some of the nominees to satisfactorily provide answers to questions leaves much to be desired. An ambassador is a senior diplomat who represents his/her country in another country.
How can these people speak for or defend this country when the need arises if they are so unenlightened?
Apparently embarrassed by the development, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, attempted to deny that any such drama took place.
In a statement he issued later, Enang argued that the 15 out of 42 nominees screened on Tuesday were able to respond to questions they were asked, and also recited the National Anthem and Pledge.
He said: “Subjecting them to criticism at this point over a situation which never happened in the first place is most unfair and uncalled for.
“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the effort of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, and members of the committee for the instinctual and thorough manner in which the exercise is being carried out.”
Senator Enang has every right to cover up the shame. However, this is not the first time that such ignoramuses would be surfacing at the Senate. In March 2011, some ambassadorial nominees picked by former President Goodluck Jonathan also failed to answer simple questions put to them by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations headed by Prof. Jibril Aminu. They also fumbled in the recitation of the National Anthem and Pledge.
One would have expected an outright disqualification of the dismal performers among them Mrs. Bristol, also from Anambra, who could neither recite the National Anthem nor name the capital of Jigawa state.
Curiously, the committee went on to confirm all the nominees. It was an endorsement of mediocrity by the National Assembly in such an important assignment. It is also a foregone conclusion that the current screening will go the way of the 2011 exercise.
But must our lawmakers place ethnic and other trivial sentiments above worthy diplomatic representation by encouraging mediocrity on the global scene? We do not think so.
Diplomats the world over are among the best and brightest that nations possess. Prerequisites for their appointment go beyond mundane considerations because far-reaching opinions are formed based on their skills, intelligence and versatile knowledge by their hosts. Nigeria is blessed with a plethora of best brains that could deliver excellent representations anywhere in the world. We don’t need ambassadors who do not know their country, or are unable to recite the National Anthem and Pledge.
