The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has congratulated Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri on being nominated as ambassadors by President Bola Tinubu.
The congratulatory message was circulated to the media on Sunday, 30th November, 2025 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The message read: ”President Bola Ahmed Tinubu … released a second list of ambassador nominees which included Chief Femi Fani Kayode and Reno Omokri.
”The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) hereby heartily congratulates the duo. Theirs are well deserved nominations as they both share common attributes: fearlessness, objectivity and patriotism. They are proud sons of Nigeria who are eminently qualified for the job.
”We are particularly happy for them because they have both distinguished themselves as reliable and genuine Christian team players who are ready to provide places at the table for all regardless of faith. We have no doubt that they will represent Nigeria adequately.” Earlier on Saturday, news came that President Bola Tinubu had included former presidential aide Reno Omokri and immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmud Yakubu, on the fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the senate for confirmation. News of the inclusion of Yakubu, Omokri and Fani-Kayode had sparked a storm of criticism across a wide spectrum of civil society immediately the announcement was made. Another notable on the list of newly-nominated ambassadors is business mogul Jimoh Ibrahim who is currently serving as a senator.; A statement by presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, on the new Ambassadorial nominations read as follows: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent the names of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, days after he sent the first batch of three names.
“In two separate letters to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu asked the Senate to consider and confirm expeditiously 15 nominees as career ambassadors and 17 nominees as non-career ambassadors. “There are four women on the career ambassadors’ list and six women on the non-career ambassadors’ list.
“Among the non-career ambassador designates are Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti first lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Others are Tasiu Musa Maigari, the former speaker of the Katsina House of Assembly, Yakubu N. Gambo, a former Commissioner in Plateau State and former deputy executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). “Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, a former senator from Plateau; Otunba Femi Pedro, a former deputy governor of Lagos State; Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister from Osun State; and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State are on the nomination list.
“Also on the list are former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande, former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent, former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, businessman, lawyer and Senator from Ondo State, and the former ambassador of Nigeria to the Holy See, Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue State. “Among the nominees for career ambassador and high commissioner-designates are: Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi) and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
“The other nominees are Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah(Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kawara) and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun). “The new nominees are expected to be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains excellent and strategic bilateral relations, such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and to Permanent Missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union. All the nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate.
“Last week, President Tinubu sent three ambassadorial nominees for screening and confirmation. The nominees were Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). All three are in the pot for posting to the UK, USA, or France after their confirmation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said more nominees for ambassadorial positions will be announced soon.”