President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate as non-career Ambassador Designates has been branded ‘one of the best nominations made by the current administration’.
The Olowu of Owu Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama stated this on Thursday in his palace during a chat with newsmen.
Oba Makama said the President’s decision to nominate them and send their names to the Senate was in the best interest of the country.
He believed that the Ex-Service Chiefs would bring to bare, the experiences they have garnered over the years in the military in their new roles for the country.
He said “I want to assure Nigerians that one of the best appointments that President Buhari made was to nominate for appointment General Burai and other ex- service chiefs as ambassador designates. The country will be better off for it. Because they are loaded with a lot of experience.
“We may see some people who are against it, they are enemies and detractors of this country’s progress. They said the president is shielding them from ICC trial, I ask if anyone has been tried before. Tell me which Nigerian has been tried in ICC? Has anybody clamoured for the trial of the American General in Pentagon for bombing General Suleiman in Iran? We have general Sule Malu here, What happened in Odi, has anybody been tried?” He stated.
Oba added: “We should always appreciate something good. I believe, the nomination of Buratai and other ex-Service Chiefs is done strictly based on national interest”.
The monarch who however urged the Nigerian Senate to honour the Ex-Service Chiefs with the honour of traditional ‘bow and go’ said their confirmation would be to the benefit of the country.
“I want to urge the National assembly to give them the honour of bow and go to confirm their nomination” Oba Makama said.
In a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, President Buhari had on February 4, 2021 nominated and forwarded for confirmation by the Senate, names of immediate past Service Chiefs as Non-Career Ambassador Designates.
They are: Gen Abayomi Olonisakin (Rtd), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman (Rtd).
