The Nigeria First movement has welcomed the confirmation of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) and other immediate past service chiefs as ambassadors designate by the Senate.
By their confirmation, the group noted the ex-COAS and his counterparts have passed the test, “unblemish in character and therefore fit to serve as heads of our foreign missions”.
Th group made this known on Thursday in a press statement in Abuja signed by its president, Chief Philip Agbese.
Owing to their trackrecord from a highly professional background, Agbese expressed optimism that they will deploy their wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on their new assignments.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure that the diplomats are deployed to countries where their impact will be most felt.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for finding the former military chiefs worthy, Chief Agbese added that he should deploy them to countries with the needed military technology relevant to Nigeria’s current security situation which will help improve military cooperation between the two countries.
Read full statement below:
On behalf of NIGERIA FIRST, May l commend the Senate for performing this important function. This is a patriotic act.
One of the important ingredients of democracy is the separation of powers.It is on this tripod of this power separation that good governance thrives. The confirmation exercise by the Senate is therefore, a confirmation that arms of the Nigerian government are working in the overall interest of national development.
Ambassadors are important in world affairs.
They represent and protect the interest and nationals of their states. They also initiate and facilitate strategic agreements ,treaties,conventions,promote information, trade and commerce, technology, friendly relations etc.Their negotiation skills and expertise are therefore significant in meeting these functions.
Having been confirmed as Ambassadors,the next thing is posting to their respective states. By their confirmation, Lt. Gen TY Buratai (rtd) and others have passed the test as unblemish in character and therefore fit to serve as heads of our foreign missions.
It’s instructive to note that these Nigerians have been called from highly professional backgrounds for this important assignment. We are optimistic that they will deploy their wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on their new ssignments
We therefore call on the federal government to ensure that our diplomats are deployed to countries where their impact will be most felt. This can be done by taking advantage of their background to decide which country each is posted to.
For instance, our immediate past service chiefs can be deployed to such countries where their military background becomes handy in negotiating military pacts on behalf of our country more so that our dear country is passing through security challenges. As service chiefs,their involvement in the nation’s defence system must have placed them in a strategic position to further improve our security architecture.
In view of their background, we are tempted to conclude that posting them to countries with the needed military technology relevant to our current security situation in the country will help improve military cooperation between the two countries.
This is why we passionately appeal that the background of the Ambassadors be used as a yardstick for their posting .This way,we will feel the impact of their representation.
Once again, we commend the Senate for performing this important assignment of their confirmation .
We also most humbly commend President Buhari for finding them worthy to serve as our representatives abroad .
Thanks and God bless you.
