By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
In reaction to the protest by the Senator representing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) demanding appointment of non-career ambassador from the FCT, the Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday implored President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the complaints of Abuja indigenes on the issue.
Senator Philip Aduda representing FCT had expressed serious concern that Buhari has consistently neglected to appoint an indigene of the area as an ambassador despite various appeals in the past.
Aduda expressed his worry on Wednesday during plenary when he cited Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules, and said, “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, I did yesterday raise some issues with you, Your Excellency, about the issue of the appointment of ambassadors.
“Your Excellency, I have consistently mentioned that before now we used to have a non-career ambassador for the FCT.
“But when the first list came, the FCT was omitted. The second list came, the FCT was omitted, and then we have another opportunity where the FCT is supposed to be represented but it has still been omitted.
“Your Excellency, this gives us worry in the FCT because it is showing that maybe it is Federal Character, or something is wrong somewhere.
“Mr President, we know that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the power to hire and fire, but Mr President, we urge you as our leader and Speaker of the people of the FCT, and indeed, the President, who incidentally by the Constitution – Section 299 – happens to be the Governor of the FCT, that in making nominations, he should look at us and please grant us our heart desire which is to have a non-career ambassador for the FCT.
“Indeed, the opportunity has come again, when some ambassadorial nominees have been submitted, and the Committee will be doing its work very soon.
“We want to crave the indulgence of this Senate, and it is a constitutional matter. Mr President, my distinguished colleagues, here I come again today with the hope that we will get support from our State House of Assembly, which is the National Assembly, and indeed the Senate with you as Chairman, to intervene in this matter and ensure that the people of the FCT have a non-career ambassador.”
Responding, Senate President Lawan agreed with the submission of Senator Aduda and implored Buhari to include a nominee from the FCT in the fifth non-career ambassadorial list to be forwarded to the National Assembly.
“As speaker of the FCT House of Assembly and as members of the FCT House of Assembly, we are appealing to the Executive to send the nomination of a non-career ambassadorial nominee for the FCT in the fifth and final phase,” Lawan said.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded a formal request to the Senate for the confirmation of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had on Tuesday, February 9, read the letter dated 27th January 2021 during the plenary session.
The letter reads: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. Cap A20 Laws the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I hereby forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the under listed officer as the Chief of Defence Staff and Services Chiefs of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The appointees for confirmation are Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea lrabor – Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo – Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao – Chief of Air staff.
“They are to replace the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.”
