Ambassadorial lists: Senate confirms Ojo Madueke, 82 others

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Ambassadorial lists: Senate confirms Ojo Madueke, 82 others

Written by Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja Thursday, 09 February 2012

The Senate, on Wednesday, confirmed the name of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and 82 others as ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

However, three other nominees were not so lucky, as they failed the screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, who refused to recommend them for confirmation, noting that they did not respond well to the questions.

The nominees are Honourable Abubakar Bunu, Zamfara; Mrs Sifawu Momoh, Edo; and Mazi Okafor Ojih, Ebonyi.

But the President of the Senate, David Mark, instructed the committee to re-screen the three nominees within seven days, given the sensitive nature of the assignment involved.

However, the wife of the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mrs Bianca Ojuwku, who was nominated to represent Anambra State on the list of non-career category, did not appear for screening.

The committee said that Abubakar Bunu, who could not scaled through the screening, “demonstrated a fair knowledge of Nigerian issues, but his knowledge of foreign relations, diplomacy and global affairs was not impressive. The committee did not find him suitable.”

It equally disclosed that Sifawu Momoh “was not expressive when she appeared for the screening. She was nervous in her response to issues raised before her. She is not good in foreign relations, diplomacy or general questions. The committee was convinced that she is not a good material for ambassadorial appointment.”

The committee said that Ojih was not forthcoming “with good responses to questions raised before him during the screening. The committee was not impressed with his performance, which was below average.”

Others who were confirmed as non-career ambassadors were Honourable James Barka, Adamawa; Chief Asam Asam, Akwa Ibom; Mr Okwudili Nwosu, Anambra; Mr Okeke Chukwuemeka, Anambra and Mr Eric Aworahbi, Bayelsa.