A routine ambassadorial screening at the Senate on Wednesday grew tense when Emmanuel Adeyemi, one of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees from Ekiti, failed to name all three senators representing his state. Adeyemi, a deputy director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a PhD and international experience, identified Opeyemi Bamidele and Yemi Adaramodu but stalled on the third seat. The panel expressed shock as members of his delegation attempted to “Google” the missing name — Senator Cyril Fasuyi.
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong called the oversight a worrying sign of declining preparedness among nominees, saying, “It is expected that somebody like you… should know details like the three senators from your state.” Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Seriake Dickson agreed, while Yunus Akintunde pleaded for leniency. Adeyemi is one of three nominees from Ekiti, among a wider batch of 65 being screened as part of the ongoing restructuring of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.