From Fred Itua, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday presented a list of 46 non-career ambassadors to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Former Speaker of Lagos State Assembly, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora and former minister, Pauline Tallen, made the list.
The President had on June 9 this year sent 47 career ambassadorial nominees to the Upper Chamber to be confirmed. Though the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs screened the list, it did not confirm it.
A source said the Senate held on to the list because it wanted to ensure the President appoints non-career ambassadors as well. There had been apprehension that he might decide not to consider the appointment of non-career envoys because of his strong preference for professionals.
“But now that the President has presented the list of non-career ambassadorial nominees, the Senate will have to merge the two lists for final confirmation,” our source said.
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, blamed the non-confirmation of the screened nominees on the Senate’s vacation.
According to a copy of the list obtained by our correspondent yesterday, Senator Mamora and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Lagos State, made the list.
Mrs. Tallen, who is also a former Plateau State Deputy Governor, was nominated. Similarly, Lagos, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kwara and Katsina got the lion’s share, while Imo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were missing from the list.
However, the Senator representing FCT, Philip Aduda, raised a Point of Order, challenging President Buhari for not nominating an indigene of the FCT as non-career ambassador in yesterday’s list.
Senator Aduda referred the Senate to Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution that states that FCT shall be treated as if it is one of the states in Nigeria and that the President is the Governor of the Territory with the executive ministers of the federation serving as commissioners of the FCT while the National Assembly shall serve as the state House of Assembly for FCT.
Senate President Bukola Saraki noted the Point of Order and promised to communicate back to the executive for correction.
Ambassadorial nominees
Uzoma E. Emenike, Abia
Cliford Zirra, Adamawa
Godwin Umo, Akwa Ibom
Christopher J .N. Okeke, Anambra
Yusuf Tuggar, Bauchi
Stanley Diriyai, Bayelsa
Enyantu Ifeme, Benue
Etuborn N.E Asuquo, C’Rivers
Francis Efeduma, Delta
Jonah Odo, Ebonyi
Uyagwe Igbe, Edo
Ayodele L. Ayodeji, Ekiti
Chris Eze, Enugu
Suleiman Hassan, Gombe
Amin Muhammad, Jigawa
Mohammed Yaro, Kaduna
Deborah lliya, Kaduna
Prof. D. Abdulkadir Kano
Alhaji Haruna Ungogo Kano
Justice Isa Dodo Katsina
Usman Bugaje Katsina
Prof. Tijani Bande Kebbi
Prof. Y.O Aliu Kogi
Nurudeen Mohammed Kwara
Prof. Mohamed Yisa Kwara
Justice Gorge Oguntade Lagos
Senator O Mamora Lagos
Modupe Irele Lagos
Musa Muhammad Nasarawa
Mohammed ibeto Niger
Ade Asekun Ogun
Barrister Sola Iji Ondo
Adegboyega Ogunwusi Osun
Major General Ashimiyu Olaniyi (Rtd), Oyo
Pauline Talin Plateau
Haruna Abdulahi Plateau
Orji Ngofa Rivers
Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor, Rivers
Jamila Ahmadu-Duka Sokoto
Kabiru Umar Sokoto
Mustapha Jaji Taraba
Goni Modu Zanna Bura Yobe
Garba Gajam Zamfara
Captain Abdullahi Una Garbasi Zamfara