Why Jonathan appointed Tukur ambassador-at-large —Minister

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, on Wednesday, said the desire by President Goodluck Jonathan to place Nigeria at the core of global affairs was the main reason he appointed the immediate past National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as an ambassador-at-large Alhaji Wali made this known when he presented a Letter of Credence to Alhaji Tukur at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Abuja on Wednesday. The minister said President Jonathan took particular interest in the global links of Tukur, as well as his sense of dedication to national cause, in offering him the job. He charged the ambassador-at-large to make Nigeria a global player within the period of time he would be actively engaged with his new official duty, stressing that the president and the rest of Nigeria counted on him to do so. To underscore the importance of the new assignment for Tukur, the minister said it had been 40 years now that a Nigerian government appointed an ambassador-at-large. He recalled that it was indeed, the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, the late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, who first took the initiative by appointing the late K.O. Mbadiwe as an ambassador-at-larage. Alhaji Wali said by being appointed as an ambassador-at- large, the world was now on Tukur’s feet, as according to him, he would be representing President Jonathan in any international forum, where he might not be chanced to be in attendance. He told Tukur that the new task entrusted to him demanded much efforts from him, being a ‘heavy’ responsibility. While thanking President Jonathan for considering the Chairman of Nigerian Railway Corporation for the job, Foreign Affairs Minister said he reposed confidence in Tukur on his ability to carry on with the new task. Responding, the ambassador-at-large said he was humbled by the privilege offered him by President Jonathan to serve in a new capacity. He noted that the gesture from the President represented the huge trust in him, as he promised to discharge his duties in the new office with sense of commitment and desire to assist in placing Nigeria in the level it rightly belongs. According to him, “People said respect begets respect and that confidence begets confidence. I understand the heavy responsibility now entrusted to me and all I can ask for is the wisdom to make me discharge it responsibly. “People used to call me a global villager, now it is turning that I am now a global ambassador which comes with a higher responsibility.” Tukur promised to give very good representation to the president of Nigeria with his new duty, recalling that the late Mbadiwe did his best as the first ambassador-at-large Jonathan had earlier told Tukur when he was disengaging from office as the PDP National Chairman that he would assign him a task bigger than the office, and had, after, appointed him as the chairman Nigerian Railway Corporation, before the latest appointment.