Former governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State have been shortlisted for ambassadorial appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The development was revealed by Jackson Ude, a US-based Nigerian investigative journalist, who broke the news via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Ude posted names of those likely to be ambassadorial appointees, including Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi, with Fola Adeola, Bayero, Usman Sarki, and Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
He addressed the former governors as “Ambassador Okezie Ikpeazu” and “Ambassador Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”, indicating that their inclusion in the list was a done deal
Notably, Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi were the two very key members of the G-5, which was a group of governors within the Peoples Democratic Party who openly vowed against the party’s presidential candidate then, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections.
The G-5, led by erstwhile Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, broke ranks with the PDP to support Tinubu of APC, thereby contributing to his eventual victory
These reported ambassadorial postings are just one part of a much bigger political patronage system where those who played big roles in Tinubu’s successful presidency campaign are rewarded.
While the presidency has not confirmed the list, the leak has already begun to speak about political loyalty and reward in the current administration.
The inclusion of former governor Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi on Tinubu’s ambassadorial list has elicited discussions on the president’s rewarding of allies who supported his campaigns, even from opposing parties.