By Patrick Idowu
An ambassadorial screening session took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when Emmanuel Adeyemi, one of President Bola Tinubu’s career diplomat nominees, struggled to name the three senators representing his home state, Ekiti.
Adeyemi, a deputy director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with foreign postings in Hong Kong and France, had impressed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, until he attempted to acknowledge “the two senators from my state.”
He named Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Yemi Adaramodu, then paused awkwardly when asked to identify the third senator.
As members of his delegation attempted to “Google” the answer – Senator Cyril Fasuyi senators expressed alarm.
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) criticised the lapse, saying such basic knowledge should be expected of anyone representing Nigeria abroad.
Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Seriake Dickson echoed his concerns.
Standing in for Senate Leader Bamidele, Senator Yunus Akintunde appealed for leniency, urging the panel to overlook the nominee’s mistake.
