The Senate, today, out-rightly rejected the 46 political ambassadorial nominees list sent to it about a fortnight ago by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senate committee on Foreign Affairs, had recommended that the names be sent back to President Buhari. The committee said the list could not be considered because of the series of petitions received.
The Ambassadorial list had been a major point of contention by the state governors who lamented that they were not carried along in the selection process of those who made the list.
They had voiced their complaints to the President, and followed it up with a letter, complaining that those sent by President Buhari to compile the list did not consult them before picking a name to represent the state in that list.
There was also a cold war between the state governors and President Buhari’s kitchen cabinet the governors vowed to resist a repeat of what transpired in the nomination of non career ambassadors with impending appointments into the board of federal government agencies.
The National Assembly leadership had held a number of meetings with the president over the list and other issues of mutual interest, with the Presidency mandating vice President Yemi Osinbajo to continue the negotiations as the president is currently on a trip to Morocco.
Read also: Governors battle ‘Aso Rock cabal’ over board appointments
The governors, with the National Assembly leadership in attendance met with Osinbajo only on Monday, for the Senate to now return the list to the presidency the next day, since Buhari had vowed that the issue will be revisited.
The names were submitted to the Senate in July, but was greeted with criticisms and outcry from Senators who protested the exclusion of their states from the list.
When the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, moved a motion whether or not the names be considered, Senators rejected them. The list has been sent back to the President.
The 46 names rejected are those of political ambassadorial nominees.
Meanwhile, the Senate has approved 47 of ambassadorial nominees. Those approved are non-career ambassadorial nominees.
Senate rejects Buhari’s ambassadorial list
The Senate, today, outrightly rejected the 46 ambassadorial nominees list sent to it about a fortnight ago by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senate committee on Foreign Affairs, had recommended that the names be sent back to President Buhari. The committee said the list could not be considered because of the series of petitions received.
When the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, moved a motion whether or not the names be considered, they rejected them. The list has been sent back to the President.
The 46 names rejected are those of political ambassadorial nominees.
On the 47 career ambassadorial nominees earlier screened by the Committee, the Senate confirmed all of them, after initial opposition by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who insisted that the nominees who failed to recited the National Anthem should be dropped.
He expressed concern that people trusted to represent the country abroad could not recite the national anthem, despite rising from the ranks to the present cadre, where they were considered to protect and preserve the image of the country at the international community.
However, the Chairman of the Committee and other members including senators James Manager, Bala Na’Allah and Gbenga Ashafa, among others, said that the screening was conducted without political coloration, urging the Senate to confirm all of them.
Manager explained that it was stage fright and not incompetence that made the nominees to encounter difficulty in the recitation of the the anthem, appealing that the minor hiccup was not sufficient to prevent their appointment.
Those who were confirmed are Obinna Chukwuemeka (Abia); Salisu Umaru (Adamawa); Inyan Udo-Iyang(Akwa Ibom), Okeke Vivian Nwanaku(Anambra), Liman Munir(Bauchi), Ndem Jane Ada(Benue), Mohammed Hassan Hassan(Borno), ; Martin Young Cobham(Cross River) ; Janet Omoleegho Olisah(Delta) and Itegboje Sunday(Edo).
Others are Olatunde Adesesan(Ekiti) Lilian Ijeukwu Onoh(Enugu) ; Manaja Tulah Isa(Gombe) ; Ngozi Ukaeje(Imo) ; Bello Kazaure Husseini(Jigawa), Enoch Pear Duchi(Kaduna), Garba Baba(Kano), Usman Bakori Aliyu(Katsina) Umar Zainab Salisu(Kebbi) ; Momoh Sheidu Omeiza(Kogi) and Kadiri Audu(Kwara).
Other confirmed nominees include Balogun Hakeem(Lagos) ; Inusa Ahmed(Nasarawa) Ibrahim Isah(Niger) Bankole Adegboyega Adeoye(Ogun) Ibidapo-Obe Oluwasegun(Osun) Ogundero Sakirat(Oyo) Eric A. Bell-Gam(Rivers) Attahiru Halliru(Sokoto) Rahmatu Dunama(Taraba) ; Musa Mamman(Yobe) and Kabiru Bala(Zamfara).
Also confirmed by the Senate are: Adamu Shuaibu(FCT), D.A Agev(Benue) , T.K Gongulong(Borno) , Ibrahim Hamza(Katsina) , K.C Nwachukwu(Imo) , Q.I Worlu(Edo) , E.K Oguntuase((Ekiti) , A. I. Paragalda(Adamawa) L.A Gasharga(Borno), Olufemi Abikoye(Kwara) , Habu Abubakar Ibrahim(Gombe) Rabiu Akawu(Kano) , Nonye Udo (Anambra) Odeka Janet Bisong(Cross River) and Sonaike Adekunbi Abibat (Ogun).
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JOHNSON PETER
November 15, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Power tussle every time. APC government has no harmony at all. Nothing like this in Jonathan’s government because they would have settled it at the party level but APC is not so.
Amarachi Okoye
November 17, 2016 at 4:49 am
Are you just knowing now APC has no unity in themselve so what every they are doing now they deserve it
Animashaun Ayodeji
November 15, 2016 at 4:47 pm
The governors have done well by writing petition against him regarding the ambassadorial list, I won’t be surprised if Mr President doesn’t know the people on the list
Roland Uchendu Pele
November 15, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Perhaps, the Aso Rock cabal is stronger than the media thinks. President Buhari seems to know nothing by himself.
yanju omotodun
November 15, 2016 at 6:17 pm
What cabal are we always talking about? No cabal anywhere . we better think of how we can make our lives okay than talking about cabal .
Jamezz
November 16, 2016 at 5:19 am
Hmmmm. Such is the case when a man believes he know it all and won’t listen to counsel. Even his own wife has drawn his attention to the activities in the cabal.
Nonso Ezeugo
November 17, 2016 at 4:40 am
Buhari is a blind man has no destination
Amaka Okoro
November 17, 2016 at 4:44 am
Buhari can only achieve is arm by doing things with his cabinets members if not he will still be lost as a president