Buhari nominates Buratai, other sacked service chiefs as ambassador-designates

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday forwarded the names of the immediate past service chiefs to the Senate for confirmation as non-career ambassadors-designate.

According to a statement issued 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).

“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,” the statement said.