President Bola Tinubu has reportedly tipped the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, for ambassadorial appointment in any African country.
Tinubu had first delegated the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to break the news to Ganduje to save him from the ongoing corruption trial he is currently facing in Kano.
Recall that Ganduje, whose 2018 bribe videos caused him public ridicule, is facing corruption charges alongside his wife, son and other accomplices to the tune of over N50 billion.
According to Daily Nigerian, inside sources who confirmed the ambassadorial appointment said Ganduje complained and tacitly rejected the president’s offer, explaining that the charges against him were tissues of lies and would win his cases in court.
“Is this the way the president will reward my loyalty? Besides, I am too old to go for ambassadorial posting. All the charges are tissues of lies, and I will win my case in court,” Ganduje was quoted as replying to Mr Akpabio.
President Tinubu was said to have personally informed Ganduje of the diplomatic posting plan and offered him three choices in Africa, Asia and Europe.
However, Tinubu’s preference was to post him as Nigerian ambassador to Chad, having served in Ndjamena as the executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission between 2009 and 2011.
“You know the president is looking for a way to pacify him. This is the reason why he allowed him to choose among the three countries, but the president’s preference is Chad.
“But the problem is that no serious Asian or European country would overlook Ganduje’s dollar video and corruption charges to accept him as ambassador.
“However, Ganduje is lobbying hard to retain his seat, going from pillar to post and complaining bitterly to Chief Bisi Akande about the president’s decision to ‘retire’ him from politics. But if the worse comes to worst, Ganduje will choose Morocco over Chad,” a source close to Ganduje said.
The aforementioned publication said Tinubu also sent a letter to Ganduje notifying him of the approval to conduct the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting and mid-term non-elective national convention.
The letter, dated August 9 and signed by the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, informed Ganduje of Tinubu’s availability for the NEC meeting to be held between September 8 and 19, 2024.
The letter through Gbajabiamila reads, “I am directed by the President to inform you that he has granted approval for the scheduling and convening of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party. The President has confirmed his availability for the NEC meeting between the dates of 8th September 2024 and 19th September, 2024.
“Furthermore, the President has directed that the agenda for the NEC meeting include, among other things, the consideration of a date for the non-elective National Convention to be held before the end of the year 2024.
“Kindly liaise with the undersigned regarding any developments or necessary clarifications related to the scheduling of the meeting. Please ensure that any changes or updates are communicated promptly to facilitate smooth coordination.”
Reacting to the development, Ganduje’s spokesman, Edwin Olofu, said he was unaware of the ambassadorial posting but confirmed Tinubu’s approval to hold the party’s NEC meeting and non-elective convention.
He said, “I’m not aware of this, and my boss hasn’t briefed me.
“But I’m aware that the party wrote to the Mr President requesting a date to hold the NEC meeting, and correspondence has been received from the Presidency that 12 September 2024 is approved for the NEC meeting, while the non-elective convention has equally been approved towards the end of the year.”
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