President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the immediate past service chiefs, as well as one other retired officer, to the Senate for their confirmation as non-career ambassadors-designate.
This was contained in a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
It said the Presidential request to the Senate also included the name of the retired Chief of Defense Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).
“President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.
“In a letter to Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, President of the Senate, the President said: ‘In accordance with section 171 (1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed five (5) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate’.
“The nominees are: Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).
“The President urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations,” the statement said.
Recall the former service chiefs, including Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), were retired from service just last week Tuesday, after occupying their positions for almost six years.