Abia, Ekiti and Niger states are conspicuously missing on the list of 41 non-career ambassadors appointed on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

These states have no representatives on the list which gave Kano, Kwara, and Oyo states three slots each while Benue and Borno states have two each.

A critical look at the list shows that two journalists – the outgoing Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspapers, Debo Adesina, representing Oyo State, and former Politics Editor of ThisDay newspapers, Oma Djebah, from Delta State, are among the 41 non-career ambassadors.

The president, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and read on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday, also nominated six women as envoys.

Other nominees are Engr. Umar Suleiman and L. S. Mandama (Adamawa), Oboro Effiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Elijah Onyeagba (Anambra), Abubakar D. I. Siyi (Bauchi), Phillip K. Ikurusi (Bayelsa), Tarzoor Terhemen and Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), Al-Bashir Ibrahim Al-Hassan and Brig. Gen. Bwala Yusuf Bukar (Borno), Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River), Ominyi N. Eze (Ebonyi), and Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo).

Also on the list are Major General C. O. Ugwu (Enugu), Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe), Obieze Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo), Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa), Prof. M. A. Makarfi (Kaduna), Hamisu Umar Takalmawa, Jazuli Imam Galadanci, and Mrs. Amina Ado Kurawa (Kano), Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina), Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi), Ibrahim Kayode Laaro, Abioye Bello, and Mrs. Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara).

The rest are Demola Seriki (Lagos), Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa), Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun), (Ondo), Adebara Bello (Osun), Adesina Alege and Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo), Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwai (Plateau), Hon. Maureen Tamuno (Rivers), Faruk Yabo (Sokoto), AdaMrs. Nimi Akinkugbe mu M. Hassan (Taraba), Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed (Yobe), and Abubakar Mori¬ki (Zamfara). ¬

The letter, dated June 28, stated: “In accordance to Section 171 (1).(2)(c) and Sub-Section (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 names of nominees as non-career ambassadors-designate.”

President Buhari equally sought accelerated consideration of the nominees, adding, “It is my hope that the distinguished Senate will consider and confirm the nominees in the usual expeditious manner.”

In the same vein, President Buhari, in a separate letter, sought the approval of Suleiman Sani, from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as a career ambassador.

The letter reads: “In accordance to Section 171 (1). (2)(c) and Sub-Section (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 appointment of Suleiman Sani as ambassador-designate for the FCT.” (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Independent)

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