By George Mgbeleke

The Senate Thursday received requests for confirmation of nominations of 65 Ambassadorial nominees from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The nominees as read from two different lists by the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio during plenary, fell into two categories of 34 Career Ambassadors and High Commissioners and 31 Non – Career Ambassadors and High Commissioners designate .

Notable names among the 34 Carrer Ambassadors and High Commissioners are Ambassador Sulu – Gambari Olatunji Ahmed from Kwara State , Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno from Borno State , Ambassador
Maimuna Ibrahim from Adamawa State etc .

Notable in the list of Non Career Ambassadors and High Commissioners are Senator Solomon Ita Enang from Akwa Ibom State , Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok – Ete from Cross River State , Ex Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahaman Dambazzau from Kano etc .

President Tinubu in the requests hinged on section 171 sub section 1, 2 and 4 of the 1999 Constitution , sought for expeditious consideration of the nominees .

Accordingly, the President of the Senate, forwarded the requests to the committee on Foreign affairs for screening and report back within one week .

Recall that President Tinubu had earlier forwarded to the Senate , three ambassadorial nominees last week for appointment confirmation .

The three earlier nominees , namely
Kayode Are ( Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu ( Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke ( Oyo State ), were screened on Wednesday by Senator Abubakar Sani Bello ( Niger North ) led committee .

Full list of the Ambassadorial nominees per state reads : ” Ambassador Ezenwa Chukwuemeka ( Abia ) Maimuna Ibrahim ( Adamawa ), Monica Ogochukwu ( Anambra) ,
Ambassador Mohammed Mahmoud Lele ( Bauchi) ,
Endoni Sindo ( Bayelsa) and Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Minguno ( Borno ) .

Others are Jane Adams Okon Michael ( Cross River ), Clark Omeruo Alexandra ( Delta ), Chimma Geofrey Davies ( Ebonyi) ,
Oduma Yvonne Ehinose ( Edo State ), Wasa Segun Ige ( Edo State )
Ambassador Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel ( Ekiti ), Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley ( Enugu ) and

Magaji Umar ( Jigawa) .

Other nominees in the category of Career Ambassadors are
Mohammed Saidu Dahiru ( Kaduna ) ,
AbdulSalam Abus Zayat ( kano) ,
Shehu Barde ( Katsina ) , Aminu Nasiu ( Katsina ),
Abubakar Musa Musa ( Kebbi) ,Mohammed Idris ( Kebbi) ,
Bako Adamu Umar ( Kogi ) ,

Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed ( Kwara ),
Ramata Mohammed ( Lagos ), Shaga John Shama ( Nasarawa )
Salau Hamza Mohammed ( Niger ) and Ibrahim Danlami ( Niger ) .

Others are
Adeola Ibrahim Mopelola ( Ogun) ,
Ruben Abimbola Samuel ( Ondo),
Akande Wahab Adekola ( Osun) ,
Adedokun Esther ( Oyo) ,

Gedagi Joseph John ( Plateau ) ,

Luther Obomode Ayokalata ( Rivers ),

Danladi Yakubu Yaku ( Taraba ) and

Bello Dogondaji ( ( Zamfara ) .

Names on the list of the 31 Non – career ambassadorial nominees are
Senator Grace Bent ( Adamawa ) , Senator Eta Enang ( Akwa – Ibom),
Nkechi Linda Okocha ( Anambra ),
Mahmud Yakubu ( Bauchi )
Philip K. Ikurusi ( Bayelsa ) ,

Paul Oga Adikwu ( Benue ),
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas rtd ( Cross River ),
Hon. Abasi Braimah ( Edo ) and

Erelu Angela Adebayo Ekiti )

Others are Barrister Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa ( Ekiti ),
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ( Enugu State ) ,
Barr. Mrs. Chioma Ohakim ( Imo State ),

Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd.) ( Kano State ),
Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari ( Katsina ) ,
Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Aliyu ( Kogi) and
Olufemi Pedro ( Lagos State ) .

Others are
Barr. Mohammed Ubandoma Aliyu ( Nasarawa ),
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim ( Ondo), Ambassador Joseph Sola Iji ( Ondo ),

Fani-Kayode ( Osun ) , Professor O. Adewole ( Osun) , Florence Ajimobi ( Oyo ), Lola Akande ( Oyo), Professor Nora Ladi Daduut ( Plateau) , Yakubu N. Gambo ( Plateau ) , Chukwujinka Okocha ( Rivers ) , Haruna Abubakar ( Sokoto ) , Rt Hon Jerry Samuel Manwe ( Taraba ) and Adamu Garba Talba Nangree ( Yobe State ) .

By George Mgbeleke

Former local government chairmen in Kano State have adopted the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 governorship race in the state.

The former LG chairmen who served between 2019 and 2022, during the era of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as Governor of the state, adopted Senator Barau during a courtesy call to the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

A motion for the adoption of Senator Barau was moved by the former chairman of Rimin Gado Local Government Area, Barrister Dahiru Mannir Maigari, and seconded by the former chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Hon. Baffa Mohammed Takai.

When the former chairman of Madobi LGA, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya, put the vote, all the former chairmen unanimously approved it through a voice vote.

Two members of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon Zubairu Hamza Masu (Sumaila) and Hon Garba Yau Gwarmai (Tsanyawa/Ghari), witnessed the event.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Malam Ismail Mudashir, said that after the voice vote, the local government chairmen appealed to Senator Barau to declare for the governorship race as soon as possible.

Former chairman of Gwale LGA. Alhaji Khalid Ishak Diso informed the Deputy President of the Senate that the people of Kano, especially at the grassroots level, are eagerly awaiting his declaration for the race.

” Kano people are waiting for you to declare for the governorship race. We recently organised an event, where we asked you to declare. You are yet to. The people of Kano are anxiously awaiting your declaration. When are you declaring? Please answer the call to serve our people,” he said.

Also, the former Chairman of ALGON, Baffa Mohammed Takai, who led his colleagues on the courtesy call, said they adopted Senator Barau in view of his outstanding performance in parliament, adding that his contributions to Kano’s development are immense.

” We are here to throw our weight behind you. We are 100 per cent with you. Insha’Allah, you will be the next governor of Kano State, come May 29, 2027. You have the capacity to address the challenges facing our state,” he said.

Responding, the Deputy President of the Senate thanked the former local government chairmen for their support, describing them as grassroots politicians.

“It’s indeed true that Kano was second to Lagos before, in terms of development, in terms of commerce and so on. Unfortunately, Kano is now trailing behind due to a lack of good leadership. Let us not live in denial. This is a fact that we must all work together to address in the interest of our people and state.

“I wish to assure you that by the grace of God, we will take bold steps to bring Kano back to its glorious days. We will succeed by the grace of God. We will always stand by the truth and for our people,” he said.

* Tsanyawa, Ghari stakeholders endorse Barau

Meanwhile, stakeholders from Tsanyawa and Ghari LGAs of Kano State have also thrown their weight behind Senator Barau’s candidature during their visit to him on Wednesday.

A member of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Garba Yau Gwarmai, representing Tsanyawa/Ghari, moved the motion, which Hon. Aminu Yakanawa seconded. A thunderous ovation from over 100 stakeholders in attendance followed the announcement of the endorsement.

Yakanawa told the Deputy President of the Senate that the people of the two local government areas are solidly behind him.

” By the grace of Allah SWT, you are the next governor of Kano State. Our people are solidly behind you, and we are committed to supporting you,” he said

Responding, Senator Barau thanked them for the support, saying the massive support from all the people of the state is a signal of what will happen in 2027.

On the security challenges facing some parts of Tsanyawa and Shanono LGAs, he said, ” We are not leaving any stone unturned in tackling this challenge. We are working underground to bring an end to it. We have taken all the necessary steps. It is not something that we go to radio stations to announce.”

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The Bayelsa Merit And Enterprise Award has conferred on the Parish Priest of St. John’s Catholic Church Igbogene in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Reverend Father Nduka Orjinweke Oseburuwa Gospel Preacher of the Year Award, 2024/2025

Presenting the award to to Reverend Father Nduka Orjinweke Oseburuwa on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at the Church Auditorium in Igbogene, the Chairman of Bayelsa Merit And Enterprise Award, Andrew Dumuarede Okpongu said BAMA is an umbrella body of media practitioners with focus on identifying people doing well in their chosen careers, professions that have made positive impact in their chosen careers on the development of society and encourage them to do more, emphasizing that the award is in recognition of the Parish Priest selfless service and using the gospel to transform lives particularly winning souls to the Kingdom of God, deliverance from powers of darkness and release of destinies that were caged through the word of God.

Also speaking, the BAMA Organizing Secretary, Comrade Elliot Zamide noted that Reverend Father Nduka Orjinweke Oseburuwa nomination for the award came from people who found him worthy in character and conduct in the area of shepherding the flocks in the vineyard of God, the impact he has created particularly through the various programmes of the Parish, notably the weekly adoration night that attracts people from the South South, South East and beyond with numerous testimonies..

In his acceptance speech, the award recipient, Reverend Father Nduka Orjinweke Oseburuwa expressed deep appreciation to BAMA for considering him worthy of the award which he stated is a call to render greater service to God and humanity.

Reverend Father Nduka Orjinweke Oseburuwa said he accepts the award for the salvation of souls saying that it will strengthen him to do more and prayed God to bless and prosper members of BAMA.