As Senate began the screening of Ambassadorial nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, a report by Leke Baiyewu of Punch Nigeria newspaper claimed that some Ambassadorial nominees cannot recite the National Anthem and Pledge correctly.
The nominees were drilled by members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu.
According to the report, the nominees were asked different questions ranging from diplomatic matters to knowledge of the Nigerian Senate and Nigeria as a whole. It was however surprising that some of the nominees could not recite the anthem or the pledge while others missed their lines.
Vivia Okeke from Anambra State could not continue when she got to the second to the last line of the first stanza of the national anthem “One nation bound in freedom.”
Ibrahim Isah from Niger State currently serving in Turkey said, “To defend her unity and integrity,” instead of “to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory.”
Jane Ndem from Benue State did not know the capital of Lagos State, she named Lagos as the capital of Lagos state instead of Ikeja.
Janet Bisong from Delta State, apologised for not knowing the number of local government areas in her state.
One of the panelist while addressing journalist said “We were there; journalists were there; the cameras and the tapes were there. How can diplomats not know the anthem and the pledge of their country? If it were Senators you will come for us”