By Banji Ayoola
A former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, the flagship of Nigerian media, and another former journalist from the stable, Mr Oma Djebah, were among the 39 non-career and one career ambassadors-designate whom the Senate confirmed on Wednesday as Nigeria’s heads of foreign missions.
Adesina and Djebah are from Oyo and Delta states respectively.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 1 forwarded 42 names to the nation’s apex law making body, requesting for their confirmation as envoys.
But there were irreconcilable issues with two nominees from Yobe and Niger states, according to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa.
Altogether, those confirmed are 39 non-career ambassadors-designate and the only career ambassador-designate on the list, who is is from the Federal Capital Territory.
On the list of the new envoys-designate is a son of the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, who was a former chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Dare Awoniyi, from Kogi State.
A breakdown of the list shows that Kwara, Kano and Oyo states have three nominees each while three others including Borno, Benue and Adamawa got two slots each.
Twenty states had one slot each while four states had no nominee.
Confirmed as non-career ambassadors-designate are: Umar Suleiman (Adamawa); Kelvin Peter (Adamawa); Chief Elejah Onyeagba (Anambra); Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River); Ominyi N. Eze (Ebonyi); Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo); Maj. Gen. C. O. Ugwu (Enugu); Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe); Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina); Ademola Seriki (Lagos); Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun); Adejare Bello (Osun); John Usanga (Akwa Ibom); Hamisu Umar Takalmawa (Kano); Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa); Hon. Tarzcor Terhemen (Benue); Al-Bishir Ibrahim Al-Hussain (Borno); Obiezu Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo); Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa); Prof. M. A. Makarfi (Kaduna).
Others are: Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa); Sadiya Ahmad Nuhu (Kano); Adeshina Alege (Oyo); Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwai (Plateau); Maureen Tamuno (Rivers), Faruk Yabo (Sokoto); Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara); Adamu M. Hassan (Taraba); Abubakar D. Ibrahim Siyi (Bauchi); Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue); Jazuli Imam Galadanci (Kano); Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi); Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (Kwara), Abioye Bello (Kwara); Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara); Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe (Ondo); Debo Adesina (Oyo); Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo); and Oma Djebah (Delta).
