President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated immediate past service chiefs of the country as ambassadors.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate as non-career Ambassadors-Designate,” presidential aide Bashir Ahmad disclosed in a tweet.
The ambassador-designates are retired Defense Chief Abayomi Olonisakin, former Army Chief Tukur Buratai, former Navy Chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and former Air Chief Sadique Abubakar.A
President @MBuhari 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) & Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S Usman (Rtd), to the Senate for approval as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) February 4, 2021
After repeated calls by Nigerians including the National Assembly, President Buhari on January 26 appointed new service chiefs. The appointment followed the resignation of the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs.
According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, the new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
The statement said President Buhari congratulated the new Service Chiefs and urged them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The statement said Buhari accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.
The retired service chiefs are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The statement the President thanked the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he called their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” and wished them well in their future endeavours.