The sudden withdrawal of Usman Isa Dakingari’s ambassadorial posting to Turkey has once again drawn attention to a recurring pattern of abrupt reversals under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Dakingari, a former governor of Kebbi State, was announced by the presidency as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey, barely a week before President Tinubu’s scheduled official visit to the country. However, less than an hour after the announcement, the presidency issued a counter-statement, saying no ambassador had been appointed to Turkey. No reason was offered for the reversal.
The development sparked renewed scrutiny, as it joined a growing list of high-profile decisions by the Tinubu administration that were announced, withdrawn or altered shortly afterwards, often without detailed public explanation.
Since assuming office in May 2023, the president has reversed or reviewed several appointments and nominations across ministries, agencies and diplomatic postings.
One of the earliest cases was the withdrawal of Maryam Shetty’s ministerial nomination, after her name had been forwarded to the Senate and she had even arrived for screening. Her nomination was replaced without prior public clarification.
Similarly, the reappointment of Muheeba Dankaka as Chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) was reversed within hours, with another nominee announced in her place. The presidency later said the change was part of an internal review, but offered no detailed justification at the time of the reversal.
There were also changes to nominees for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, where some state representatives were initially announced and later replaced. In another case, the nomination of Ruby Onwudiwe to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) board was withdrawn days after being sent to the Senate.
The presidency also recalled the names of two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) earlier submitted to the National Assembly, replacing them with new nominees. Likewise, the appointment of Ibrahim Kashim Imam as Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was quietly rescinded following public reactions.
In the education sector, Idris Olorunnimbe’s appointment as Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) was cancelled and replaced with a former governor. Changes were also recorded in the leadership of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where announced appointments were reversed and previous officials reinstated.
In most cases, the reversals occurred within hours or days of the initial announcements. While some were later linked by officials or media reports to “mix-ups,” stakeholder objections, or the need for further consultation, formal explanations were often delayed or absent.
The Dakingari episode is particularly notable because it involved a diplomatic posting tied to a presidential foreign visit, raising questions about internal coordination and communication within government.
Supporters of the administration argue that the reversals show a willingness to correct errors and respond to feedback. Critics, however, say the repeated U-turns point to weaknesses in due diligence, consultation, and information management at the highest level of government.
As public attention grows, analysts say the presidency may face increasing pressure to provide clearer explanations when major decisions are reversed, especially in matters involving national representation, governance institutions and public trust.
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