Senate rejects Buhari’s ambassadorial list

Citing irregularities and lack of federal character in the nomination process, the senate has suspended the screening of 47 ambassadorial nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate put the screening on hold Wednesday after Senator Joshua Dariye raised a motion under matters of urgent national importance alleging the non-inclusion of the names of competent persons from his constituent.

Senator Dariye expressed concern that not a single career diplomat from his state was included in the list.

His views were shared by Senators Sola Adeyeye and Fauster Ogolar. They believe that the nomination process is faulty.

The Senate after deliberation summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, to appear before its Committee on Foreign Affairs to explain the lopsided nomination and report to the upper legislative chamber in one week.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, also joined in the condemnation of the nomination process before announcing the decision of the Senate to suspend the screening.

Below is his statement:

“Following reported discrepancies and the lack of state representational spread in the names of Ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate for consideration, today, the Senate resolved to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to appear before it to explain the purported irregularities in the list.

It is important that we address the issues surrounding this list before the screening of Ambassadors commences.

In this regard, I have asked the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to immediately investigate the alleged irregularities surrounding this nominee list and submit a report to the full plenary in one week.”