By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Barely two weeks after their retirement from the military, President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated all the immediate past service chiefs as ambassadors.
Recall that on January 26, 2021, after calls from several quarters, Mr Buhari approved the resignation of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
They were replaced by Major-General Leo Irabor as the Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru as the Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as the Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao as the Chief of Air Staff.
But just as they are about to fully settle down for retirement, after nearly 40 years in service, President Buhari has found them worthy to continue to serve the nation as ambassadors.
One of the aides to the President, Mr Basir Ahmad, said on Thursday that the four former military officers have been nominated and their names forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
However, they are not the only persons selected to serve the nation as ambassadors as one other person, also a retired military officer was also chosen and would need the screening and confirmation of the upper chamber of the parliament.
“President Buhari has forwarded the names of 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 S Usman (Rtd) to the Senate for approval as non-career ambassadors-designate,” Mr Ahmad announced via his Twitter handle.
Recall that before their retirement a few days ago, some Nigerians had called for the prosecution of the military officers, especially the army chief, at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands, over alleged human rights abuses, including the 2020 alleged shooting in Lekki, Lagos.
