By our reporter| The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of the immediate past service chiefs as non-career ambassadors, despite criticisms in some quarters.
The former service chiefs were nominated on February 4 by President Muhammadu Buhari as non-career ambassadors-designate a week after their replacement with new officers.
But the Senate Minority Leader Enyinaya Abaribe, questioned the nomination and confirmation of the ex-service chiefs when the Senate had on three different occasions called for their sack.
He also questioned why the petitions against the former service chiefs were dismissed without explanations.
However, Senate President Ahmad Lawan dismissed Senator Abaribe’s concerns, ruling that the nomination of the former service chiefs cannot be nullified simply because the upper chamber had called for their sack, noting that this is totally a different assignment.
Senator Lawan added that the former service chiefs have served the country to the best of their abilities, and urged the Executive to utilise their experiences as much as possible and should be posted to countries where they will be useful.
The former service chiefs cleared by the Senate on Tuesday include, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; and the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
Others are former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman.
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