A group, Society For Development (SFD), has charged the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to confirm the names of the ex-service chiefs as non-career ambassadors following their nomination by President Buhari.
The SFD gave the charge in via letter to the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The letter was titled, “PETITION AGAINST THE NON CAREER AMBASSADORIAL NOMINATION OF LT. GENERAL TUKUR BURATAI RTD, AND OTHER IMMEDIATE PAST SERVICE CHIEFS”.
In the letter signed by Mr Akintunde Bello Sheriff, Coordinator, Society For Development (SFD), the group called on the Senate President to confirm Lt. General Buratai Rtd and other former service chiefs who have been nominated as non-career ambassadors without hesitation, saying the nominees performed well in securing the country during their service.
The letter read, With profound respect to your exalted office, we wish to laud your efforts and that of the National Assembly (joint chambers) which you lead on your pursuits in the consolidation of the governance of Nigeria with the Executive under the President and Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR). This has created the enabling stability upon which the administration runs and which is suggestive of your leadership maturity, diplomacy, and sense of patriotic candour.
“We read with utter disappointment, the baseless petition letter which was addressed to your good office which was published yesterday against the anticipatory and possible confirmation of all the immediate past service chiefs including Lt. General Tukur Buratai Rtd for the confirmation of their appointments as non career Ambassadors as nominated and forwarded by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic.
“First, we must point out that the signatory to the fictitious petition is an unfocused character who has overreached himself by dubbing the power of the legislature, otherwise, it is laughable that a man being driven by ulterior motives and hatred will sit in the comfort of his room to damage the reputation of people who dedicated their lives for the protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the security of Nigeria and her borders throughout their stewardship in the service. He the said Dickson Nnamdi Irogbu and his aggrandisement Nigeria Right Now are at best, was speaking for their parochial tiny and sectional non existent group. They have no mandate of the Nigerian people.
“On the allegations that the ex service chiefs should clear their names, we rise firmly to educate the ignoramus that LT. General Buratai Rtd has no pending case with any court or arbitration panel in his self posture. He left the military with a neat record and the facts speak for itself. Therefore, General Buratai’s name remains unblemished and would not require any whitewashing according to the mischievous element and enemy of the Nation.
“Beyond rhetorics, the business of security is a complex architecture which required that all hands must be on deck. This was why LT.General Buratai Rtd, led the Nigerian Army in collaboration with his other colleagues during his time to ensure that Nigeria became safer than he met her when he assumed the office. It is apparent that the tide changed from the unfortunate and serial bombings that pervaded the atmosphere of the FCT and indeed all parts of Nigeria, thus, limiting the criminals in the society to perhaps only the extreme desert battlefield where the Soldiers are trying their best efforts to eliminate completely with evidential results of gradual conquest.
“The President of the Senate Sir, you are unarguably one of the most experienced lawmakers that Nigeria ever produced, therefore you know the rudiments. A non existent group food seeker will therefore not arm twist your leadership or take away your constitutional power of confirmation of the nominees of the President of the Federal Republic. His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) being a war veteran himself understood the sacrifices and loyalty of Lt.General Buratai Rtd and all other immediate past service chiefs to Nigeria. His nomination is therefore commendable and meet the expectations of majority people of Nigeria who do not see retirement as a curse but rather a blessing. Retirement is not a death sentence!
“Conclusively, we are unequivocal in our continuous trust in the leadership of the National Assembly under you to continue to stand firmly in the support of the government toward lawful causes as these nominations of the immediate past service chiefs and the likely confirmation of the Senate.
“We are proud that Lt. General Buratai Rtd typifies the rare spirit of the oneness of Nigeria throughout his duration of office as Chief of Army Staff and that has translated to significant infrastructure developments across the entire geopolitical zones of Nigeria in the military quest to promote participatory governance anchored on evenly distribution of dividends of democracy to complement the good effort of government at all levels. The reward of hard work, your Excellency Sir, is more work. We are therefore unanimous in the appreciation to Mr President for considering the immediate past service Chiefs for another duty in the call to service.
“Finally, it is on record that eminent stakeholders in Nigeria including the traditional or royal institution has not defaulted over the years in their support for the military and indeed the wider service in Nigeria and this resolve subsists. It is apparent in the embrace that the non career ambassadorial appointments of Lt. General Buratai Rtd and others has earned across Nigeria irrespective of creeds or clans or zones, since it was announced.
“May God continually equip you, Mr President of the Senate, with the energy and wisdom to sustain your leadership of the red chamber and indeed the National Assembly.”
