Senate confirms Maduekwe, 83 others as ambassadors.

The Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of former Foreign of Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Senator Abdalah Wali and 83 others as ambassadors.

Two others, Mrs. Sifawu Inu-Umoru Momoh JP (Edo) and Mathias Okafor (Ebonyi), whose nominations were rejected by the screening committee due to poor performance, were asked to reappear before the committee.

The wife of the late Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Bianca, who did not appear before the Senator Mathew Nwagwu-led Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, was asked to appear for screening anytime she can because of her husband’s demise.

The Senate confirmed the nomination of another nominee, Abubakar Shehu Bunu (Zamfara), whose nomination was earlier rejected by the committee.

The screening committee dropped him for poor performance during the screening session.

But the lawmakers agreed that since Bunu was a former member of the House of Representatives, “the tradition of take a bow and go” that applies to former members of the National Assembly should have been adopted in his case.

The confirmation was not without twist and turns as some Senators commended the committee for a job well done while others criticized the unfavourable recommendations for some of the nominees.

Senator Zainab Kure (Niger South) noted that of the 84 nominees recommended for confirmation, only eight were women. She said more women should have been considered for the non-career slots in line with the 35 per cent affirmative action.

The lawmaker said at least 20 women should have been in the list.

Senate President David Mark said the case of Bunu, a former member of the House of Representatives, was more straightforward since the tradition of “take a bow and go” should have applied to him.

He added that if the two nominees remained nervous “then they are not fit and proper to serve as ambassadors.”

Apart from Madueke (Abia) and Wali (Sokoto), others confirmed are: Mrs Fidelia Njeze (Enugu), Hon. James Shuaibu Barke (Adamawa), Chief Assam Assam (SAN) (Akwa Ibom), Okwudili Odi Nwosu and Dr. Francis Chukwuemeka Okeke (Anambra), Mr. Eric Aworabhi (Bayelsa), Barrister Chive Kaave (Benue), Dauda Danladi mni (Borno), Mrs. Katharine  Okon (Cross River), Hon. Barrister Nwofe Alexander, Princess Victoria J.B. Onipede (Ekiti), Sen. Haruna Garba, (Gombe), Nonye B.Rajis-Okpara and Chief Eddy Onuoha (Imo), Adamu Babangida Ibrahim and Alhaji Tukur Mani (Katsina), Mr. Biodun Natheniel Olorunfemi (Kogi), Engr. Olatokunboh Kamson (Lagos), Dr. Sam Jimba (Nasarawa), Cornelius O.Oluwateru and Col. Roland Omowa (rtd) Ondo), Akinyemi Farounbi (Osun), H/E Taofik Aragaja (Oyo), Mrs. Matilda Kwashi (Plateau), Sen. Abdalah Wali (Sokoto), Senator Lawan Gana Guba (Yobe), and Mrs. Esther John Audu (FCT), all non-career ambassadors.

The career ambassadors confirmed are: Mr. G.O. Ehiobuche (Abia); Mr. T. Hamman Joda and Mrs. M.S. Gerenge-Sen (Adamawa); Mr. S.B. Bassey (Akwa Ibom); Mr. C.N. Okafor (Anambra); Mr. D. G. Bala and Mr. M.S. Yunusa (Bauchi); P.O. Ogidi-Oke (Bayelsa); Mr. M. Adoli and I.V. Ogah (Benue); Mr. E. Asuquo and Mr. B. E. Achibong (Cross River); Mr. F.N. Isoh and N.C. Onianwa (Delta); Mr. F. Awanbor and O.I. Iyamabo (Edo); Mr. L.A. Ayodele (Ekiti); C.N. Iroala (Enugu); Mr. D.L. Madugu and Mr. B. T Tekune (Gombe); Mrs. C.E. Obi-Nnadozie (Imo); Mr. H. Ginsau and I.B. Rabiu (Jigawa); as well as Mr. I. A. D. Nuhu and Mr. M. L. Suleiman (Kaduna).

Also confirmed are: Mr. I. Anwalu and A. Umar (Kano), Mr. A. A. Tijjani and Mr. S. S. Bala (Katsina); Mr. H.S. Shuaibu (Kebbi); Mr. F.A. Rotimi and Mr. B. A Musa (Kogi) Mr. A. R. Sallahdeen and A.A. Adepoju (Kwara); Mr. O.A. Lawal and O. A. Onafowokan (Lagos); Mr. A.M. Adams (Nasarawa); Mr. Z.I. Gana (Niger) A.O. Fayomi and S.O. Onadipe (Ogun); Mr. A.A. Ayoko (Ondo); Mr. A. O. Obisakin and Mr. A.J. Adefidipe (Osun); Mr. S. A. K. Oyateru (Oyo); Mr. Y.D. Gukas and C.K. Jackden (Plateau); Mr. H.O. Koko and Mr. G.T. Tenelaibe (Rivers); Mr. Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto); Mr. A.A. Sulaiman (Taraba); Mr. M.L. Gana and Mr. Rabiu Dagari (Yobe), and Mr. M.M. Hassan (Zamfara).