Teddy Nwanunobi, Abuja
Several weeks, after the Senate had rejected the first list of non-career ambassadorial nominees sent to it for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari, the President, on Thursday, resubmitted a fresh list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
The new list, which was sent to the Red Chamber for confirmation, was initially rejected on the ground that there were several petitions against the nominees on the first list.
The Senate had, in November last year, voted to reject Buhari’searlier list, asking for a “rejigging and re-submission”.
Numerous petitions trailed the earlier nominations, the Senate said then.
“I suggest we return the list of non-career ambassadors to the executive so that they can re-present it.
“There are about 200 petitions against the nominees, and we don’t even know where to start (from),” Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, said.
The new list was conveyed to the Senate on Thursday via the President’s letter read by the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
The letter was titled: ‘Re-submission Of Non-career Ambassadorial Nominees’.
“We submit the revised list of 46 non-career ambassadors for confirmation as ambassadors by the distinguished Senate.
“It is my hope that this will receive the usual attention of the Senate,” Buhari said in the letter.
Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were believed to have expressed opposition to the earlier list in theirmeeting with the President, complaining of non-consultation beforenominees were drawn from their respective states.
Two notable nominees, Pauline Tallen (former Deputy Governor of Plateau State) and Usman Bugaje (from Katsina State) turned down their appointments.
The list is as follows: Uzoma Emenike (Adamawa), Aminu Lawal (Adamawa), Godwin Umoh (Akwa Ibom), Christopher Okeke (Anambra), Yusuf Maitama (Bauchi), Baba Maigudu (Bauchi), Stanley Douye (Bayelsa), Stephen Uba (Benue), Baba Ahmed Gida (Borno), Utobong Asuquo (Cross River) and Frank Ofegina (Delta).
Others are: Joda Udoh (Ebonyi), Yagwe Ede (Edo), Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti), Chris Eze (Enugu), Suleiman Hassan (Gombe), Sylvanus Usofo (Imo), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), Ahmed Bamili (Kaduna), D. Abdulkadir (Kano), Haruna Arungungu (Kano), Musa Udo (Katsina), Mohammed Rimi (Katsina), Tijani Bande (Kebbi), Y. Aliu (Kogi), Nurudeen Mohammed (Kwara), Mohammed Isa (Kwara), Adesola Omotade (Lagos), Modupe Remi (Lagos), Musa Mohammed (Nasarawa), Elijah Ibeto (Ogun), Susan Aderonke Folarin (Ogun), Jacob Daudu (Ondo) and Afolayon Adeyemi (Osun).
The rest are: A. Olaniyi (Oyo), James Dmika (Plateau), Haruna Abdullahi (Plateau), Orji Ngofa (Rivers), Sahibi Isa Dada (Sokoto), Kabir Umar (Sokoto), Jika Ado (Taraba), Goni Zana (Yobe), Garba T. (Zamfara), Bala Mohammed (Zamfara) and Ibrahim Dada (FCT).