Senate confirms Buratai, others as non-career ambassadors

The Senate on Tuesday, February 23, confirmed ex-service chiefs as non-career ambassador designates.

The Senate, following the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on foreign affairs, confirmed the nominees.

The following were confirmed: Gen Abayomi G. Olonosakin (Rtd), Lt. Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Mashal Muhammed S. Usman (Rtd)

The confirmation was not without controversy as the Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe raised a point of order on why the committee dismissed some petitions against the nomination.

During the session, Minority Leader Eyinnaya Abaribe raised on point of order on the report. He noted that the committee dismissed two petitions against the ex-service.

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“I was hoping the committee would have given us an incline on why the petitions were dismissed. One of the petitions was on the integrity of the Senate.

“The petition said the Senate took resolutions against the ex-service chiefs. We had about three resolutions calling for their removal as service chiefs. The same people have been nominated and expected to be confirmed by the senate,” the Minority Leader said.

Lawan responded that the resolutions were on removing them as service chiefs, and cannot cross to the nomination for other positions.

The Senate President argued that the country will benefit from the military background of the nominees.

“I checked our resolutions, the resolutions were on ” calling on the President to remove them” as Service Chiefs. Now they have been nominated for something different. These resolutions cannot cross over to other nominations,” Lawan said.

He added that, “without prejudice to the position of executive. I will be urging the executive to post them to countries surrounding us. They can strive for cooperation with those countries in our fight against insurgents. The resolutions cannot cross to nominations for other positions.”

The Minority Leader again tried to raise another point of Order, he cited order 43 (Personal explanation), he was however ruled out of order by Lawan.

The Senate consequently confirmed the appointment of the nominees.