Demola Seriki, the Nigerian ambassador to Spain, has died at the age of 63.
The news of his death was made public in a statement signed by his children, the former minister was said to have passed away “surrounded by his family” on Thursday, December 15.
“It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to Almighty Allah that we announce the loss of our much loved and admired patriarch, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend,” the statement reads.
Born on November 30, 1959, Seriki was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, and a one-time Minister of State for Defence.
As Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, he had concurrent accreditation as a permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
PDP Kicks Against Senate’s Clearance Of Former Service Chiefs For Ambassadorial Posting
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has kicked against the confirmation of ex-service chiefs as ambassadors designate.
They were confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
In a statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the former military chiefs were confirmed despite the public outcry that greeted their nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The PDP said the clearance will not stop the investigation and possible prosecution of the ex- military chiefs by the International Criminal Court, ICC, for alleged crime against humanity, which preliminary steps have already commenced by the ICC.
The statement said: “It is indeed horrendous that the APC leadership in the Senate could choose to betray Nigerians by rushing to clear the accused ex-service chiefs in a desperate attempt to grant them diplomatic immunity and shield them from investigation and prosecution for the atrocities committed against Nigerians under their command.
“Though it is public knowledge that the current APC Senate leadership is a mere rubber stamp and contrivance being used to endorse atrocious policies and suppress the will of the people, but descending to the level of aiding and abetting crime against humanity by attempting to confer diplomatic immunity on the accused ex-commanders is, to say the least, despicable.
“It is indeed shameful that the APC leadership in the Senate could clear the ex-service chiefs, who the National Assembly had earlier indicted and requested for their sack over security failures and alleged compromises. Such reward for failure amounts to stabbing our nation in the back.”
The party said the confirmation of the ex- military chiefs has painted the entire National Assembly in a bad light before Nigerians and the international community.
“Already, the development is pitching the Senate against the majority of Nigerians, particularly the victims of acts of terrorism as well as those of the reported extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions in dehumanizing camps, massacre of peaceful protesters, torture, rape, and other atrocities allegedly committed under the ex-commanders, as detailed in the reports of credible international bodies including the United States Department of State, Amnesty International, AI, and Transparency International, TI,” the PDP added.
Senate Confirms Former Service Chiefs As Non-Career Ambassadors
The Senate has confirmed former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; former Chief of Air Staff, Ibok Ibas; and former Chief of Naval Staff, Abubakar Sadique as non-career ambassadors.
The confirmation came on Tuesday, February, 23, 2021.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on February 5, sent their names to the senate to be confirmed as non-career ambassadors.
Nigerians believe appointing the former service chiefs as ambassadors is a plan to shield them from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, ICC, for alleged abuses committed by the Nigerian military under their watch.
Source: Vanguard
