Date: 2017-01-13

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday submitted a new list of 46 persons to the Senate for consideration as non-career ambassadors.

Buhari's letter dated January 11 was read during plenary by Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday.

In the new list, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora (Lagos), Dr. Usman Bugaje (Katsina) and PauIine Tallen (Plateau) who were on the earlier list were replaced. Our correspondent reports that Bugaje and Tallen had turned down their nominations.

The Senate had last year rejected a list of 47 non-career ambassadorial nominees sent by President Buhari following complaints from various stakeholders.

An analysis of the new list showed that Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara states have two nominees each.

Our correspondent reports that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Imo State that were missing on the rejected list have been included in the new list with the nomination of Habiss Ibrahim Ugbada and Justice Sylvanus Nsofor respectively.

The 46 nominees are; Mrs. Uzoma Emenike (Abia), Aminu Iyawa (Adamawa), General Godwin Umo (Akwa Ibom), Christopher Okeke (Anambra), Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Bauchi), Baba Madugu (Bauchi), General Stanley Diriyai (Bayelsa) Steven Ugba (Benue) Baba Ahmed Jidda (Borno) Etubom Asuquo (Cross River), Frank Efduma (Delta) Jonah Odo (Ebonyi), Uyagwe Igbe (Edo) and Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti).

Also nominated are General Chris Eze (Enugu), Suleiman Hassan (Gombe), Justice Sylvanus Nsofor (Imo), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), Ahmed Bamali (Kaduna), Deborah Iliya (Kaduna), Dandatti Abdulkadir (Kano), Haruna Ungogo (Kano), Justice Justice Isa Dodo (Katsina), Mohammedu Rimi Barade (Katsina), Tijjani Bande (Kebbi), Y. O. Aliu (Kogi) Nurudeen Mohammed (Kwara), Professor Mohammed G. Yisa (Kwara), Justice George Adesola Oguntade (Lagos), Modupe Irele (Lagos), Musa Ilu Mohammad (Nasarawa) and Ahmed Ibeto (Niger).

Others are Suzanne Aderonke Folarin (Ogun), Jacob Daodu (Ondo), Afolahan Adeyemi (Osun), General Ashimiyu Olaniyi (Oyo), James G. Dimka (Plateau), Haruna Bawa Abdullahi (Plateau), Orji Ngofa (Rivers), Sahibi Isa Gada (Sokoto),Kabiru Umar (Sokoto) Hassan Jika Ado (Taraba), Goni Zanna Bura (Yobe), Garba Gajam (Zamfara) Bala Mohammed Mairiga (Zamfara) and Ibrahim Habiss Ugbada (FCT).

Buhari in the letter urged the Senate to quickly look into the request, saying "It is my hope that this will receive the usual kind prompt attention of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic".