ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, applied for approval of the Senate of the Federal Republic to enable him appoint fifteen Special Advisers, who will assist him to carry out his functions as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
In the letter addressed to Senate President David Mark, President Buhari premised his request on Section 151 (1), (2), (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The letter titled “Appointment of Special Advisers” read in part: “Pursuant to the provision of Section 151(1), of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which confers on me to appoint Special Advisers to assist me in the performance of my functions, I write to request for your kind consideration and approval of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic to appoint fifteen Special Advisers as prescribed in Section 151(2-3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria (as amended).
While trusting that this exercise will receive the traditional prompt attention of the Senate, please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration”
Also yesterday, the Senate congratulated President Buhari and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemie Osinbajo for their inauguration and promised to identify with his administration for the interest of the citizenry.
Commenting on the motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and co-sponsored by other Senators, the Senate President, David Mark also commended Nigerians for accepting the outcome of the general elections that ushered new leadership.
If the followers didn’t accept, (the results of the elections) the story would have been different today. For the first time in the history of this country, we discovered that the Presidential election is not before any tribunal.
“I think that is a milestone in our democratic process and we must acknowledge that it is a mark of statesmanship and a demonstration of the acceptance of the will of the people because election is not done by just one individual, election is done by all of us who are members of the various constituencies.
It is not just enough to congratulate President Buhari, I think we should also congratulate the former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who willingly conceded defeat and followed the announcement with a telephone call to President Buhari and also appealed to his members to accept that as the verdict from the people”, Sen. Mark noted.
President Muhammadu Buhari
