The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ambassadorial nominees

  • Ambassadorial nominees recited National Anthem correctly – Enang

    The Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, on Wednesday dismissed report that some ambassadorial nominees failed to recite the National Anthem and the Pledge.

    Enang in a statement titled – “Ambassadorial Nominees: ‎Media report a misrepresentation of fact,” faulted the report that some ambassadorial nominees faltered when they were asked to recite the National Anthem and the Pledge during their screening at the Senate.

    The Presidential aide, who led the nominees to the venue of the screening session, said it was wrong to paint the nominees in bad light when nothing like that happened.

    Enang said, “Our attention has been drawn to report by a section of the media that some ambassadorial nominees were unable to recite the National Anthem and Pledge while appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening.

    “May I state that the nominees were able to respond to questions asked the‎m and also recited the National Anthem and Pledge when called upon. As such, the report by the media is incorrect.

    “Subjecting them to criticisms at this point over a situation which never happened in the first place is most unfair and uncalled for.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the effort of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and members of the committee, for the intellectual and thorough manner in which the exercise is being carried out.”

  • Senate begins screening of ambassadorial nominees

    The Senate on Tuesday began the screening of 47 ambassadorial nominees whose names were forwarded to the upper chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration and confirmation.

    The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is charged with the responsibility of screening the nominees.

    The Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, led the nominees to the screening venue.

    But it was all drama as some of the nominees failed to recite the National Anthem and Pledge.

    One of them could not say the capital of Lagos State as she insisted that the capital of Lagos is Lagos instead of Ikeja.

    The nominee was asked to list 12 states and their capitals. She listed Lagos State capital as Lagos.

    Her answer threw the audience into a hilarious session that lasted several minutes.

    Some others wobbled and fumbled as they laboured to recite the National Anthem and Pledge.

    Some of the committee members expressed embarrassment that career diplomats could not recite the country’s National Anthem.

    Even when a committee member, Senator James Manager, gave one of the nominees a window of escape, the nominee could still not recite the Pledge.

    One of the committee members lamented that “what we saw today shows the quality of those we are sending to represent the country in other countries.”

    The screening of the nominees sparked controversy following allegations that the list was lopsided.

    Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Plateau and Ondo States Senators kicked against the list alleging irregularities in the compilation of names.

    The committee will submit its report to the Senate in plenary for final approval before the list will be sent back to the President.

     

  • Ambassadorial nominees:  Senator raises alarm over omission of Bayelsa

    Ambassadorial nominees:  Senator raises alarm over omission of Bayelsa

    The Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Emmanuel Paulker, yesterday raised the alarm over the omission of Bayelsa State in the list of ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate for confirmation and approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Paulker said he was inundated with calls by his constituents and other concerned Nigerians who draw his attention to the fact that no nominee from Bayelsa State was included among the ambassador designates.

    The lawmaker said he carefully went through the list sent to the Senate and discovered indeed that there was no nominee from Bayelsa State.

    Paulker said that the non inclusion of a nominee from Bayelsa State is made more painful when it is realised that some states had three nominees while others had two.

    He urged the Senate to mandate its committee on Foreign Affairs to take up the matter to ensure that justice was done to the state.

    President Buhari had on June 9th, 2016 forwarded a list of 47 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation and approval.

    Paulker said: “Mr. President, just as we left here (Senate) at the close of work (on Thursday June 9th, 2016) my other two colleagues and I were inundated with calls drawing our attention to the fact that no nominee from Bayelsa was reflected on the list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate.

    “Mr. President initially I thought those calls were misplaced but we have gone through the record and discovered that the calls were not misplaced.

    “Mr. President, facts are available to us that even in the Foreign Affairs Ministry at least we have two Bayelsans that are on the level of deputy directors.

    “I believe that these two personalities can fit into where these nominees came from.

    “Equally in the list there are some states that have up to three in number. Non inclusion of any Bayelsans on the list is a clear violation of the Constitution.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said  in line with Senate rules Paulker discussed the matter with him.

    Saraki added “You know according to our rules under Order 43, there would be no debate but however I am happy that the chairman committee on Foreign Affairs is here, they will take note of this observation while they carry out their work on this matter. By tomorrow (today) we would have committed that to the Foreign Affairs Committee to work on it.”