The Federal Government has presented a Letter of Credence to immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd), as Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Benin.
Gen. Olonisakin receiving his Letter of Credence from Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama handed over the letter to the former Army chief in Abuja on Tuesday.
In the same vein, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Rtd), was also appointed as Ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Cameroon.
“Today, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama presented Letters of Credence to the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, Amb. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, Amb. Tukur Yusufu Buratai,” the ministry posted on its Facebook page.
Gen. Olonisakin getting his letter of credence from the minister. Facebook/Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Tuesday’s event came about four months after President Muhammadu Buhari nominated the ex-service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.
On February 23, 2021, the lawmakers confirmed their nominations. Senate President Ahmed Lawan during the confirmation said the former service chiefs served the country to the best of their abilities.
Senator Lawan urged the executive to utilise their experiences as much as possible and they should be posted to countries where they will be useful.
Ex-Service Chiefs arriving at the Presidential Villa for a security council meeting.
On February 18, the former service chiefs were screened by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The committee which was led by Senator Mohammed Bulkachuwa held a closed session before the service chiefs were ushered into the room for the commencement of the screening.
Buhari appointed the ex-service chiefs in 2015. Before they “voluntarily resigned” earlier in the year, they came under pressure to relinquish their positions due to the escalating levels of violence in the country.
