Presidential spokesman on policy and communication, Daniel Bwala, has stated that the Tinubu administration is not looking for “perfect people” to serve in government, emphasising that political appointments are at the discretion of the President.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Bwala explained that there is no legal requirement for appointing ambassadors, noting that the role is largely political.
He said appointees may be career diplomats or politicians, just as past Ministers of Defence, prior to the Buhari administration, were appointed without military experience.
Bwala noted that concerns over nominees’ past conduct are often subjective and that even in advanced democracies, political considerations influence appointments.
He cited the United States, explaining that some Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Donald Trump were selected primarily for ideological alignment.
According to Bwala, the key consideration is whether an appointee is “fit and proper,” a standard that can vary from person to person. He emphasised that under Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution, the President has the authority to select those who will help run the government and will ultimately bear the consequences of any poor decisions.
He said, “There is no statute or book that dictates the requirements for being appointed as ambassador. Career diplomats are in embassies to advise and handle diplomatic issues, but the President may also appoint a politician. Political appointments, like that of the Minister of Defence before Buhari, have historically been given to civilians without military experience.
“In terms of whether nominees have been involved in toxic environments, even in model democracies like the US, appointments are influenced by political alignment. The essential factor is whether someone is judged fit and proper, which is subjective. What matters is their ability and readiness to work.
“The beauty of democracy is that we do not look for perfect people. We appoint those who are willing to serve, and if they err, they can be removed. Governance itself is not perfect, and feedback from Nigerians is part of the process.”