The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Debo Adesina, Ex-Minister of State for defence, Ademola Seriki, Dare Sunday Awaoniyi, among others in 41-man non-career and one career ambassadors submitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation on Wednesday.
The President’s letter of request was read on the floor at plenary by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Also, he asked the Upper Chamber to confirm Mr. Sulyman Sani as a Career Ambassador representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sulyman’s nomination may be related to the protest by Senator Philip Aduda (FCT) who stated that the territory was neglected in the earlier list of Career Ambassadors sent to the Senate for confirmation.
Following the reading of Buhari’s letter, Senator Aduda, through a point of order, appreciated the Senate President for helping to ensure that the FCT was not relegated in the appointment of the Career Ambassadors.
He said that he believes that the President of the Senate would also intervene to ensure that the FCT is represented in the appointment of Non-Career Ambassadors.
Other Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate include: Engr Umar Suleiman (Adamawa), L.S. Mandama (Adamawa), Oboro Effiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Chief Elijah Onyeagba (Anambra), Abubakar D. Ibrahim Siyi (Bauchi), Philip K. Ikurusi (Bayelsa), Hon. Tarzoor Terhemen (Benue), Paul Ogba Adikwu (Benue), Al-Bashir Ibrahim Al-Hassan (Borno), Brig. Gen. Bwala Yūsuf, Bukar (Borno) and Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River).
Also on the list are: Oma Djebah (Delta), Ominyi N. Eze (Ebonyi), Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo), Maj. Gen. C.O. Ugwu (Enugu), Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe), Obiezu Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo), Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa), Prof. M.A. Makarfi (Kaduna), Hamisu Umar Takalmawa (Kano), Jazuli Imam Galandanci (Kano), Amina Ado Kurawa (Kano), Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina), Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (Kwara), Abioye Bello (Kwara).
The President also nominated Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara), Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa), Chief Sarafa Tunji Isola (Ogun), Mrs. Nimi Akinkube (Ondo), Adejaba Bello (Osun), Adeshina Alege (Oyo), Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo), Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwal (Plateau), Hon. Maureen Tamuno (Rivers), Faruk Yabo (Sokoto), Adamu M. Hassan (Taraba), Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed (Yobe) and Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara) as non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.
The President, in one of his letters titled: “Appointment of non-career Ambassadors-Designate” said: “In accordance to Section 171 (1),(2)(c) and subsection (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under listed forty-one (41) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.”