Canada Delegation: Wrong for President’s Aide to Lead Elected Governors on Foreign Mission — ADC

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to lead a delegation that includes five state governors to Canada.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the arrangement as inappropriate, questioning why an unelected presidential aide should lead elected governors on an international mission.

Abdullahi made the comments in a post on X while reacting to the Federal Government’s delegation to the maiden Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference in Toronto.

President Tinubu had approved a delegation led by Gbajabiamila to represent Nigeria at the conference, scheduled to take place in Toronto from August 12 to 15.

The delegation includes Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.

Several ministers and representatives of government agencies are also expected to participate in the conference, which is focused on promoting investment, trade and economic cooperation between Nigeria and its diaspora community.

However, Abdullahi questioned the protocol behind the composition of the delegation, arguing that Gbajabiamila is an unelected official and a personal aide to the President.

Expressing his disapproval, the ADC spokesman said the decision reflected what he described as shortcomings in the Tinubu administration.

“Just when you think that you have seen the worst of this Tinubu government, they will just surprise you,” Abdullahi wrote.

He added, “How can the President’s Chief of Staff, an unelected personal aide of the president, lead elected state governors on a foreign mission? It is well.”

The criticism comes as the Federal Government seeks to use the Toronto conference to deepen economic ties between Nigeria and Canada while attracting investment into key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The conference is expected to bring together Nigerian and Canadian government officials, investors and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities in agriculture, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, healthcare and the digital economy.

The Federal Government has described the event as an investment-focused platform aimed at connecting international investors with investment-ready opportunities in Nigeria.

The ADC, however, maintains that the leadership structure of the delegation raises questions about the appropriate protocol for representing elected state governments on international engagements.