By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Even as some Nigerians clamour for the trial of the immediate past Service Chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari, obviously enamoured by their almost six-year service, on Thursday forwarded their names to the Senate to be confirmed as non-career ambassadors-designate.
The former service chiefs, including Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), were retired from service last week after much pressure from Nigerians.
Even though their tenure had expired long before last week, Buhari was reluctant letting them go.
But on Thursday, he compensated them with ambassadorial nominations.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the Presidential request to the Senate also included the name of the retired Chief of Defense Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).
The statement reads:
“President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.
“In a letter to Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, President of the Senate, the President said: “In accordance with section 171 (1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed five (5) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.”
“The nominees are: Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).
“The President urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations.”