By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the nomination of 47 career ambassadors sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the plenary on Tuesday, the upper legislative chamber approved the 47 nominees, who are to represent Nigeria in other countries as ambassadors.
Those confirmed are Obinna Chukwuemeka, Salisu Umoru, Iyang Udoh, Okeke Vivian, Liman Munir, Edem Jane, Mohammed Hassan, Martin Cobham, Janet Molegbo, Itegbuoye Sunday, Olatunde Adesesan and Lilian Onu.
Others are: Manaja Isa, Ngozi Ukeje, Bello Husseini, Enoch Ducci, Garba Baba, Usman Aliyu, Umar Salisu, Momoh Omeiza, Kadiri Audu, Balogun Hakeem, Nosa Ahmed, Ibrahim Isa, Bankole Adeoye and Ibidapo Obe.
Ogundaro Sakirat, Eric Belgam, Ateru Haliru, Ramota Bulima, Musa Mamman, Kabiru Bala, Adamu Shuaibu, D. A. Agiv, T.K. Gonglong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C. Nwachukwu and Q.R. Wolu, E.K. Oguntuwase, A.I. Paragauda, L.A. Gasharga, Olufemi Abikoye, Abubakar Ibrahim, Rabiu Kawu, Janet Bisong and Adekunbi Habeebat are also among those confirmed.
Their confirmation came following the report submitted by Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Monsurat Sunmonu for consideration.
Sunmonu informed the Senate that no fewer than 250 petitions were submitted against the confirmation of the career ambassadors, noting that out of the 47 nominees, four of them were unable to recite the National Anthem properly.
Though efforts were made to stop the confirmation of the nominees, but the intervention of Senator James Manager and Senator Gbenga Ashafa made the Senate to confirm the career ambassadors.
President Buhari had in June forwarded the names of 47 career ambassadors to the Senate for confirmation.