Diplomatic blunder: FG suspends Perm Sec for SA envoys’ recall

For the diplomatic embarrassment caused to the government and country when Nigeria’s envoys to South Africa were recalled in the wake of the xenophobic attacks in Madiba’s land, the Federal Government has put out a scape goat.

Presidency sources claim that President Goodluck Jonathan was neither informed not put in the picture before the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced the recall of the nation’s envoy to South Africa, hence the president ordered the suspension of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, over the unauthorized recall.

The Perm Sec was on Monday Morning suspended and directed to clarify why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for embarrassing the Nigerian government.

Nigeria presently does not have an ambassador in South Africa.

It is the second time since the appointment of the permanent Secretary, Ambassador Sheni that the Nigerian government would be brought to diplomatic ridicule over poor handling of diplomatic affairs.

In the first instance, the Ministry had claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan spoke with the King of Morocco on phone, a claim that was denied by the Moroccoan government and later president Jonathan who ordered a full investigation into the matter.

The report of that investigation is yet to be made public.

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