The Senate has confirmed the nominations of the former Service Chiefs as Ambassadors-Designate.

 

Ekwi Ajide of our Abuja bureau, reports that the confirmation of the nominees followed consideration of the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 

The former Service Chiefs confirmed are General Abayomi G. Olonisakin, Retired, from Ekiti, Lieutenant General Tukur Y. Buratai Retired, from Borno, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete E. Ibas, Retired, from Cross River, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar Retired from Bauchi and Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman, Retired, from Kano.

 

Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, in his presentation said their appointments were made in line with section one hundred and seventy-one sub section forty of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

 

According to him, their experiences as Service Chiefs and in the military where they rose to the highest ranks in their careers have made them eminently qualified, and that the nominees were very knowledgeable and articulate in their response to questions directed at them by the Committee.

 

The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, while coming under a point of order, demanded explanation as to the rationale behind the dismissal of the petition against the nominees by the Committee, particularly against the backdrop of the Senate resolutions in the past calling for their removal as Service Chiefs.

 

Responding, the Senate President pointed out that the Senate resolution demanding their removal was in no way related to President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the Senate to confirm them as Ambassadors-Designate, adding that, they are two separate roles

 

The nominees were, thereafter, confirmed after a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, to that effect and seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe.

 

The Senate President in his remarks after the nominees were confirmed advised the Executive arm of government to deploy them to countries where their experiences as former military officers would be required.

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