Two longstanding Nigerian diplomats
nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday failed to recite the
country’s anthem and pledge, leaving lawmakers and journalists at a senate
hearing in laughter.
The recitals are taught in primary
schools across the country, and are performed daily by students throughout
their secondary school study.
The two diplomats, Vivian Okeke and
Ibrahim Isah, were nominated by President Buhari alongside 45 others as
prospective envoys to different countries, where they would promote Nigeria’s
culture, ideals and values.
At a dramatic session Tuesday,
members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, vetting the diplomats’
qualifications, unexpectedly asked Mrs. Okeke and Mr. Isah to recite the
national anthem and pledge.
While Mrs. Okeke mumbled the words
of the anthem, Mr. Isah floundered and could not proceed with the pledge after
introducing himself.
Mrs. Okeke was later aided by James
Manager, a Senate committee member, as she murmured through the second stanza
of the anthem.
Both nominees have been in the
Nigeria’s Foreign Service since 1983 – already raking in 33 years of experience
each.
Mrs. Okeke currently serves at the
Nigerian embassy in Washington, United States. In 2013, she was the minister
(trade and investment) at the mission. She is from Anambra State.
Mr. Isah,
who began his career as Third Secretary in the African Affairs Department of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, currently serves in Ankara, Turkey, as Charge
D’Affairs of Nigerian mission in the country.
He had
headed the chancery at the Consulate-General of Nigeria in the U.S. and Saudi
Arabia, and was also Chief Airport Protocol Officer responsible for seeing off
and receiving foreign leaders who visited Nigeria.
Mr. Isah
told the screening committee that Nigeria must block foreign goods from
entering the country “like China” to come out recession.
It wasn’t
the first time a would-be envoy would fail the national anthem test.
In March
2011, Ijoma Bristol failed to recite the anthem and could not also name the
capital of Jigawa State during her screening before Jubril Aminu-led Foreign
Affairs Committee of seventh Senate.
She was
however cleared, with then Senate President, David Mark, saying “her case is a
case of poor pass”.
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