President Bola Tinubu has recommended Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for an ambassadorial position in an African country, DAILY NIGERIAN reports.
Ganduje, who assumed the role of APC national chairman on August 3, 2023, after Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation, was initially informed of the proposed diplomatic appointment through Senate President Godswill Akpabio. According to credible insiders, Akpabio conveyed that the offer was part of a strategy to protect Ganduje from the corruption charges he faces in Kano.
Ganduje, whose reputation was tarnished by 2018 bribery videos, is embroiled in a corruption case involving over N50 billion. His wife, son, and other associates are also implicated. Despite these legal challenges, Ganduje reportedly rejected the president’s offer, maintaining that the accusations are baseless and that he will emerge victorious in court.
“Is this how the president rewards my loyalty? I’m too old for an ambassadorial posting, and all these charges are lies. I will clear my name in court,” Ganduje is quoted as telling Akpabio.
Subsequently, President Tinubu personally offered Ganduje a choice of an ambassadorial role in “any African country” or one of three specific locations in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Sources suggest Tinubu’s preference is for Ganduje to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Chad, a country where Ganduje previously held the position of Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission from 2009 to 2011.
However, Ganduje remains resistant, lobbying to retain his position as APC chairman. Reports indicate that he has sought the intervention of Chief Bisi Akande, expressing frustration with the president’s intention to “retire” him from active politics. If no resolution is reached, Ganduje is said to favor an ambassadorial post in Morocco over Chad.
In the midst of these discussions, President Tinubu has also granted approval for the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and mid-term non-elective national convention. In a letter dated August 9, signed by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Ganduje was informed of the president’s availability for a NEC meeting scheduled between September 8 and 19, 2024.
The letter also instructed that the NEC meeting agenda should include setting a date for the non-elective convention, to be held by the end of the year.
When contacted, Ganduje’s spokesman, Edwin Olofu, denied knowledge of the ambassadorial proposal but confirmed the president’s approval for the NEC meeting and convention.
“I’m not aware of this; my boss hasn’t briefed me,” Olofu said. “However, I can confirm that the president approved the NEC meeting for September 12, 2024, with the convention set for later in the year.”
