*Expert Urges Him To Nominate Dynamic, Energetic Diplomat
President Buhari’s 82-year-old Ambassadorial nominee to United States
may be rejected for not being a “dynamic, energetic person”, Matthew
Page, a former U.S intelligence community expert, has said.
Recall that Sylvanus Nsofor’s nomination as Ambassador to the U.S had
sparked controversy when President Buhari sent his name to the Nigerian
Senate.
The Senate had rejected him after a report by the Department of State
Service (DSS) advised that the ambassadorial nominee “will not be able
to perform the duty of an officer due to his advanced age.”
Regardless, the Presidency sent the 82-year-old’s name back to upper
legislative chamber for reconsideration, after which he was confirmed on
June 7 for the job.
But Mr Page, in an interview with Osasu Igbinedion on The Osasu Show,
said the US is uncomfortable with posting Nsofor to resume at its
Washington DC office.
“This chap made headlines when he was nominated as an ambassador by
Buhari. He is a very well respected Nigerian but his disadvantage is
that he is 82-year-old,” Page said.
“What I am hearing is that the US government is very uneasy about
agreeing to have this ambassador posted to Washington because that is an
extremely arduous drop.
“You have a growing schedule and its one of Nigeria’s largest overseas
embassies to manage. This is something that needs a very dynamic and
energetic person with an enormous constitution.
“So, there is uneasiness but there is also the desire to respect when a
country sends you an ambassador. You can’t just say no, send me another
one.
“The Nigerian government may sort of reconsider and realise that that
person may not be best suited and that there are obviously a lot of
talented Nigerian diplomats.
“So I don’t think there is a shortage for choice. PMB for whatever
reason in his mind just wants this particular guy for this particular
post and it’s probably not the best fit.”
