The Nigerian Senate has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees sent to the chambers for legislative approval.
The lawmakers, on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 said the list will be sent back to President Muhammadu Buhari “for resubmission and re-jigging.”
Some stakeholders within the president’s party, including state governors, had complained that the president did not seek their input before sending the list.
The issue is believed to have been top of the agenda of the meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, senate president Bukola Saraki, speaker Yakubu Dogara, and some state governors which held Monday night at the presidential villa.
Some notable nominees are retired Justices of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade; former deputy governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Paullen Tallen, who rejected her nomination; former member of the House of Representatives, Usman Bugaje; and former deputy governor of Niger State, Ahmed Ibeto.
The nominees are Dr. Uzoma Ememke (Abia State), Dr. Clifford Zirra (Adamawa), Maj.-Gen. Godwin Umo (retd.) (Akwa Ibom), Christopher Okeke (Anambra), Yusuf Tugar (Bauchi), Baba Madugu (Bauchi), Brig.-Gen. Stanley Diriyai (Bayelsa), Dr. Enyantu Ifenne (Benue), Mohammed Hayatuddeen (Borno) and Dr. Etubom Asuquo (Cross River).
Also on the list are Francis Efeduma (Delta), Jonah Odo (Ebonyi), Uyagwe Igbe (Edo), Ayodele Ayodeji (Ekiti), Maj.-Gen. Chris Eze (retd.)(Enugu), Suleiman Hassan (Gombe), Amin Muhammad Dalhatu (Jigawa), Muhammad Yaro (Kaduna), Deborah Iliya (Kaduna), Prof. D. Abdulkadir (Kano), Haruna Ungogo (Kano), Justice lsa Dodo (Katsina), Dr. Usman Bugaje, who has also rejected his nomination (Katsina), Prof. Tijjani Bande (Kebbi), Prof Y. O. Aliu (Kogi) and Nuruddeen Mohamed (Kwara).
Others are Prof. Mohamed Yisa (Kwara), Justice George Adesola Oguntade (retd.)(Lagos), Senator Olorunimbe Mamora (Lagos), Modupe Irele (Lagos), Musa Ilu Muhammad (Nasarawa), Mohammad Ibeto (Niger), Ade Asekun (Ogun), Sola Iji (Ondo), Adegboyega Ogunwusi (Osun), Maj.-Gen. Ashimiyu Olaniyi (retd.) (Oyo), and Dr. Haruna Bawa Abdullahi (Plateau).
Orji Ngofa (Imo), Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor (Rivers), Jamila Ahmadu-Suka (Sokoto), Kabiru Umar (Sokoto), Mustapha Jaji (Taraba), Goni Modu Zanna Bura (Yobe), Garba Gajam (Zamfara) and Cpt. Abdullahi Uba Garbasi (Zamfara) were also nominated.
