The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, approved the nomination of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, for appointment as ambassador.
The Committee also cleared former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-special adviser on new media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, and Senator Grace Bent.
Also approved for appointment as ambassadors are former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, former Governor of Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Governor of Abia State Victor Okezie Ikpeazu.
After brief introductions, former ministers, ambassadors and lawmakers were asked to “take a bow and go,” in line with Senate tradition.
The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, defended the continued use of the “bow and go” procedure for certain nominees, saying it is reserved for individuals with established and verifiable records of public service.
Speaking during the screening of non-career ambassadorial nominees, Bamidele explained that anyone who has previously served in the National Assembly automatically qualifies for the privilege, arguing that their legislative history and public profile are already well known to lawmakers.
The screening session, which was conducted in batches of five nominees per batch, experienced a mild drama when it was the turn of Omokri to face the Panel.
Senators Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole openly disagreed on how his clearance should proceed.
After Omokri’s batch had introduced themselves, Ndume moved a motion to allow the nominees to take a bow and leave.
However, some Senators, including Oshiomhole, insisted that they should be allowed the opportunity to make comments.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Sani Bello, recognised Oshiomhole to speak, but Ndume insisted that his motion should be seconded before allowing further interventions, a development that led to a sharp disagreement between the two Senators.
The screening of the ambassadorial nominees was sequel to President Bola Tinubu’s submission to the Senate on November 29, requesting that those nominated be considered and approved for appointments to the country’s foreign missions, which have been operating without ambassadors for some time now.
