Senate confirms Buratai, others, non-career ambassadors amid opposition

The confirmation followed a report of the screening which was presented to the Committee of the whole by the Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa.

Bulkachuwa explained that the ex-Service Chiefs made themselves available for the screening in line with the legislative procedure and were found satisfactory.

He further explained that there were two petitions against the nominees which could not be proved by the petitioner, hence, it was thrown out, while the second one bothers on the morality of their nomination, since the Senate passed a resolution asking the executive to. sack them because of their inability to stem the tide of insecurity when they were in charge.

Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya raised a point of order demanding explanation from the Chairman of the Committee on the petition that bothers on Senate’s moral ground in the confirmation of citizens they have knocked over incompetence to deliver.

Reacting, Senate President, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Lawan before ruling Enyinnaya Abaribe out of order, explained that their experience could be used to the nation’s advantage.

He.said: “Our resolution was clear and consistent for three times.

“We asked that they should be removed as Service Chiefs and that doesn’t they can’t occupy any other political office.

“Without prejudice to what the Executive will do, saying they could be posted to the neighbouring States where Nigeria is having security issues and they could offer their experiences.”

After his explanation, the plenary went ahead to confirm them.

Those confirmed are:
1. General Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd) – Ekiti
2. Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd) – Borno
3. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete E. Ibas (Rtd) – Cross River
4. Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (Rtd) – Bauchi
5. Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (Rtd) – Kano State