President Umaru Yar'Adua has nominated the out-going National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party

President Umaru Yar'Adua has nominated the out-going National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali, for confirmation by the Senate as ambassador.

Also yesterday, Yar' Adua forwarded three fresh ministerial nominees, namely, Mr. Demola Seriki from Lagos State, Orubebe Peter Godsday from the South-South zone and Udo Chuka Julius from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to the Senate for confirmation.

Meanwhile Taraba and Kaduna states are yet to have a representative in the Federal Executive Council.

Seriki’s nomination seems to have put paid to the lingering bickering in Lagos State PDP over the ministerial slot given to the state.
Ali made the list of 62 ambassadorial nominees, which was read on the floor of the Senate yesterday by Senate President, Senator David Mark.
Others who made the list, composed of 42 politicians and 20 career diplomats, included the defeated governorship candidate of PDP in Lagos State, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, former presidential aspirant, Brigadier- General Buba Mohammed Marwa, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Joy Ogwu, and former ECOMOG Commander, Major-General Timothy Shelpidi (rtd.)

The list also comprised the following political nominees: Chief Empire Kanu (Abia), Chief (Dr.) Etim U. Uye (Akwa Ibom) Hon. Jerry Ugokwe (Anambra), Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdulahi (Bauchi), Senator Felix Oboro (Bayelsa) Prof. Iyorwuese Hargher (Benue), Barrister Obed Wadzani (Borno), Chief Soni Abang (Cross River), Chief Godson Echegile (Delta) and Chief Polycarp Nwite (Ebonyi).

There are also Barr. Toye Olofintuyi (Ekiti), former Minister of Aviation, Chief Kema Chikwe, (Imo ), Mr. Godwin Nsude Agbo (Enugu), Alhaji Ahmed Abdullamid Malam (Jigawa), former Senate Leader, Senator Dalhatu Tafida (Kaduna) and former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano).
Alhaji Abdulahi Garba Aminch (Katsina), Alhaji Isah Aliyu Muhammed (Kebbi), Brig. Gen. Yusuf Abubakar (RTD) (Kogi), Dr. (Mrs.)Nimota Niniola Akanbi (Kwara), Senator Umaru Azores Suleiman(Nasarawa), Dr. Ishaya Majanbu (Niger), Chief Mrs Folake Marcus Bello (Ogun), Prof. Olu Agbi (Ondo), Senator Segun Bamigbetan Baju (Osun) and Amb. Peter Layi Oyedele (Oyo).

Others are Barr. Ibrahim Pada Kasai (Plateau), Hon. Desmond Akawor (Rivers), Senator Abdulahi Muhammed Wali (Sokoto), Hon. Musa John (Taraba), Ibrahim Buba Mai Sule (Yobe), Alhaji Bashir Yuguda (Zamfara), Esther John Audu (FCT), Brig. Gen Oluwole Rotimi (Ogun), Alhaji Abubakar Cika (Sokoto) and Hon. Fidel Ayogu (Enugu State)
On the list of career officers are: Mr; C. W. Winge (Abia), Ms.Asalina R. Mamuno (Adamawa) Mr. B.U. Eyo (Akwa Ibom) Mr. G.B Igali (Bayelsa), Mr. G.O Adamah (Benue) Mr. M.B Egbe (Cross River), Mr. A.B Gwari (Yobe), Mr. S.M. Pissagih (Gombe), Mr. S.L Mohammed (Jigawa)and Mr. T.Y. Zaria (Kaduna).

Also included on the career diplomat list are: Mr. R.B. Onemola (Kogi), Mr. A.A. Omaki (Nasarawa), Mr. E.A. Adigun (Ondo), Mr. G.H.Bristol (Rivers), Mr. J. Y. Hassan (Taraba), Mr. A.G Bala (Zamfara), Mr. M.A Mba(Ebonyi), Mr. C.L. Laseinde (Osun), Mr. P.A. Dauda (Kaduna),Prince Eheneden Erediauwa (Edo) and Mr. B.G Wakil, mni (Borno).
The career nominees are all between grade levels 15 and 17.
In the covering letter to the list, President Yar’ Adua said the appointment of the nominees was in accordance with section 171(c) sub-section 4 of the 1999 constitution and expressed the hope that the Senate would approve their appointment expeditiously.

The Senate President appealed to his colleagues to warn the nominees not to attempt to reach any of them (senators) for the purpose of bribing them to confirm their (nominees’) appointment.

He said that the upper chamber would be fair to all nominees just like it did with the first set of ministerial nominees it screened recently.
According to him, “I must warn that you should tell your nominees that there is no need to see anybody through the back door by carrying “Ghana Must Go” bag. We did well with the previous ministerial nominees and we intend to do well with this.”
He said that the new ministerial nominees would be screened live like their counterparts via network broadcasting while the ambassadorial nominees would not get the same opportunity due to paucity of funds.

He, however, said that when the ambassadorial nominees would be screened by the Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Senator Jubril Aminu, the exercise would be recorded and air time would be bought to show it on Television for Nigerians to watch.