Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd) and the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Retired) have been presented with their Letters of Credence.
While Buratai was handed the Republic of Benin ambassadorial portfolio, Olanisakin is the Ambassador-Designate to the Republic of Cameroon.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama presented the Letters of Credence to them on Wednesday morning.
Onyeama, during the brief ceremony, congratulated them on their appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari and called on them to deploy their wealth of experience to promote Nigeria’s interest during their tour of duty in countries of accreditation.
Recall Buratai and Olonisakin were among the four ex-Military Chiefs nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari on 4th February 2021. In the meantime, the Ex-Chief of Air staff, Ibok Ibias and former Chief of Naval Staff, Abubakar Sadique are still awaiting their posting.
They were confirmed by the Senate on February 23, 2021 amid much public outrage against the backdrop of their performance while superintending over the military in the country’s fight against insecurity.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had in February advised President Buhari to deploy the former service chiefs to neighbouring countries battling security issues in collaboration with Nigeria.