Senate clears Marwa, Chikwe, Nwite for ambassadorial posts

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 30.01.2008

The Senate on Tuesday finally confirmed the former military administrator of Borno and Lagos states, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa; former Minister of Aviation, Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe and the former Chairman of Senate Committee National Security and Intelligence, Senator Polycarp Nwite, as ambassadors.

The confirmation was as a result of the consideration of the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs headed by Senator Jubril Aminu.

The report was, however, presented by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, as Aminu was not available when the Senate called for the report. He came in about 20 minutes after Nnamani had presented the report.

Senator Nnamani told the Senate that the committee screened the nominees and found them fit for confirmation as ambassadors. The confirmation of the trio had led to confusion on the floor of the Senate last Thursday, following the refusal of Senator Aminu to recommend Marwa and Nwite for confirmation of the Senate.

He made reference to security reports, which he said, were unfavourable to the duo. But the Senate rejected the report on the grounds that only Aminu signed the report out of 12 members of the committee, while six of the members disowned the report during the sitting.