By Abanikanda Olumoro (UK)
CITIZENS COMPASS– According to a report by Punch Newspaper back home in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has just picked his ambassadorial nominees, about two years after assuming office.
This is a welcome development that the world’s most populous black nation can now have its representatives in countries globally for ease of international relations.
While the President, in his wisdom, picked ambassadorial nominees representing their respective states in the country, he still erroneously picked again this time a non-indigene, Femi Pedro, who – to the best of my knowledge – is not from Lagos State.
This, in all honesty, is unjust and unfair to the people of Lagos State and such nomination, in the interest of justice, should be dropped from being considered for confirmation.
Femi Pedro cannot represent Lagos State. The fact that he once served as Deputy Governor of Lagos State cannot be a justification for this new ambassadorial appointment because his becoming Deputy Governor was circumstantial.
It is now becoming clearer that Mr. President prefers Yoruba South West who are not indigenous to occupy positions that should constitutionally go to the indigenous people. The indigenes are feeling the impact of the domination by other South West states’ indigenes, and they are not happy.
There are many qualified Lagos State indigenes who are also members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that could fit into the Ambassadorial slot to fill the position.
Pedro is a resident of Lagos State, but he is from Ogun State by origin. Both the Department of State Services (DSS) and Federal Government as well as National Assembly, if they truly are there for the people, must ensure that only true indigene of the state be considered as Ambassador to fill the vacant post.
Otunba Femi Pedro, by my findings, often said on a Lagos State prominent persons platform in his usual condescending manner and I wish to quote his common refrain, “Awon wo l’omo Eko…Melo tie niwon? (meaning: “Who are the indigenes…How many are they?) Unfortunately, this statement, coming from such an important individual who has immensely benefited from Lagos State, eminently shows that he is not an indigene and a good friend of the state.
Otunba Femi Pedro, undoubtedly, is an Ijebu man from Ogun State.
Also, Otunba Femi Pedro often miscalculates his political narratives against Lagos State indigenes from whom he became known and made his wealth.
In this way, he is advised to stop biting the finger that feeds him. That is taking the hospitality of Lagos State indigenes for granted.
Olumoro is a public affairs analyst and a Nigerian in the Diaspora.
