President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a former minister of state of Defence during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Ademola Seriki, and 40 other ambassadorial nominees for confirmation by the Senate.
While one of the nominees from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Suleiman Sani, was appointed as career ambassador, the rest were non-ambassadorial nominees.
Twenty states had one slot each while four states had no nominee. Some of the non-career ones are two journalists, Messrs Debo Adesina (Oyo) and Oma Djebah (Delta)
The list also included Dare Awoniyi (Kogi), who is the son of the late Sunday Awoniyi, former Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum.
A careful observation of the list indicated that three states, (Kwara, Kano, Oyo) have three nominees each while three others, (Borno, Benue, Adamawa), got two slots each.
He forwarded the names of the nominees to the Senate, seeking confirmation of their appointments “in accordance to section 171(2)(1c) and Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
His letter was read out by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of plenary on Wednesday, June 1, 2020. The full list is as follows:
- Umar Suleiman (Adamawa);
- L.S. Mandama (Adamawa);
- Oboro Effiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom);
- Chief Elejah Onyeagba (Anambra);
- Abubakar D. Ibrahim Siyi (Bauchi);
- Philip K. Ikurusi (Bayelsa);
- Tarzcor Terhemen (Benue);
- Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue);
- Al-Bishir Ibrahim Al-Hussain (Borno);
- Brig Gen. Bwala Yusuf Bukar (Borno);
- Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River);
- Oma Djebah (Delta);
- Ominyi N. Eze, Ebonyi (Ebonyi);
- Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo);
- Maj. Gen. C. O. Ugwu (Enugu);
- Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe);
- Obiezu Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo);
- Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa);
- Prof. M. A. Makarfi (Kaduna);
- Hamisu Umar Takalmawa (Kano);
- Imam Galandanci (Kano);
- Amina Ado Kurawa (Kano);
- Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina);
- Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi);
- Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (Kwara),
- Abioye Bello (Kwara);
- Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara);
- Ademola Seriki (Lagos);
- Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa);
- Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun);
- Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe (Ondo);
- Adejare Bello (Osun);
- Adeshina Alege (Oyo);
- Debo Adesina (Oyo);
- Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo);
- Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwai (Plateau);
- Maureen Tamuno (Rivers);
- Faruk Yabo (Sokoto);
- Adamu M. Hassan (Taraba);
- Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed (Yobe);
- Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara).
In a related development, President Buhari requested the upper chamber to confirm the appointment of Usman Hassan as Commissioner representing Kaduna State in the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.