President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sought replacement of some non-career ambassador-designates. This is as Senator Philip Aduda (PDP FCT) queried the exclusion of a nominee from the Federal Capital Territory.
In a letter read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Buhari requested the confirmation of the new designates in accordance to section 171 (1).(2)(c) & subsection (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The previous nominees were Air Commodore Peter Ndabake Gana (RM) and Alh. Yusuf Mohammad from Niger and Yobe states respectively, to be substituted with Amb. Muhammad Haruna Manta (Niger state) and Yasufu Yunusa (Yobe state).
After the letter was read, Senator Aduda in a repeated show of protest, came under Order 43 of the Senate standing rule, requesting for a nominee from the FCT.
He said: “We just read another letter from Mr President where we heard ambassadorial nominations from Yobe and Niger states.
“One would have thought that having come under this order a few times about no nomination for someone from FCT which has been the practise from 1999 till date.
“As I am talking to you, we have a sitting ambassador from FCT who is representing the nation in Sierra-Leone.
“Even if there were going to be changes, I believe the names should have gone to the presidency and sent to us.
There seems to be nothing for the FCT. I am a representative of the FCT and I cannot sit here and not protest against the trend.”
His point of order was however merely noted by the Senate President in his ruling.
