Sufuyan Ojeifo
14 January 2009
Abuja — The Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Nigeria's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Aminu Wali, for another ambassadorial job.
This morning, the Upper House will reconsider the nomination of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) ministerial nominee, Abdulrahman Adamu (Adamawa State), whose nomination was rejected last year.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, had re-presented Adamu after the problem of lack of consultation that impeded his confirmation by the Senate was cleared by ANPP National Chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. It was learnt yesterday that the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, acting in concert with the Senate leadership, had slated the reconsideration of his nomination on today's order paper.
The confirmation of Wali, along with 10 other nominees, was consequent upon the consideration of their screening report, which was presented by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Jubril Aminu. Aminu had urged his colleagues to overlook the shortcomngs of one of the nominees, Isaac Onuh from Kogi State, for his inability to answer some questions.
He said Onuh failed to tell the Committee the capital of Jigawa State during his screening, adding that he could not also locate where the Georgia Republic is on the map of the world.
Aminu said, "the nominee suffered from memory lapse and has since recovered," and pleaded with senators to confirm his appointment.
The Senate unanimously confirmed all the 11 nominees, including Onuh. Others confirmed included, Adamu Daura from Katsina State , Lawrence Nwuruku from Ebonyi State and Nkoyo Toyo from Cross Rivers State, all non-career ambassadors.
They also included Mr H. Abdullahi from Niger State, L. Bature from Katsina State, L.O. Akindele from Oyo State, Samuel Aiyedona from Lagos State, R.O.Eze from Enugu State and Ghali Umar from Kano State, all career ambassadors. After their confirmation, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, assured that the Upper House would not compromise efficiency and merit at the altar of federal character principle.
He, therefore, urged senators to encourage their constituents to always seek to enlist in the foreign service, so that the complaints of lopsidedness in ambassadorial appointments would become a thing of the past sooner than later.
He said, "I want to urge senators to advise members of their constituencies who complained of marginalisation to encourage them to join the civil service. We cannot sacrifice efficiency for federal character, because these people are going to represent us outside the country."
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