President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, barely one week after forwarding an initial batch of three names for confirmation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while reading the President’s letters during plenary on Friday, said the new request comprises 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career ambassadors, with the Presidency urging lawmakers to give the nominations urgent consideration.
The non-career list is populated by prominent political figures cutting across party lines. Those nominated include:
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun)
Former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu
Former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi
Former Oyo First Lady, Florence Ajimobi
Former Lagos Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro
Businessman and Senator, Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)
Former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande
Former Plateau Senator, Nora Ladi Daduut
Immediate-past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
Author and political commentator, Reno Omokri (Delta)
Grace Bent (Adamawa)
Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue)
Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina)
Yakubu N. Gambo (Plateau)
The 15 career ambassadors on the list include experienced Foreign Service officers such as:
Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)
Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno)
Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna)
Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara)
The envoys-designate are expected to be deployed to strategic missions including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, as well as Nigeria’s permanent missions to the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President will transmit additional ambassadorial nominations “in the coming weeks.”
With the new list, the number of nominees before the Senate has risen to 35, including the earlier three—Amb. Ayodele Oke, Amb. Amin Dalhatu, and Rtd Col. Lateef Kayode Are—who are being considered for postings to the United Kingdom, United States, or France.
The Senate is expected to begin screening the nominees in the days ahead.
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