(Abuja)
Kogi State Indigenes working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry ABUJA, have lauded President Mohammadu Buhari for appointing MRS. REGINA INGEKEM OCHENI, as Ambassador- Designate.
The workers gave the commendation in a rejoinder, signed by Comfort Jumai Ali and Ibrahim Abdul and copied to the Senate President and Director of DSS as well as made available some journalists in Lokoja on Friday.
They urged the President not to allow naked injustice and prejudice against Ocheni,as indicated in the petition against her, sail through.
According to them the Ambassadors-designate is an indigene of the State, adding by that virtue, she is “eminently qualified to be so appionted.”
The workers expressed joy that the petitioners did not fault Ocheni of integrity, competence or suggest any negative report against her person or in the line of duty.
They described allegations against the Ambassador-designate as done on the basis ignorance of Service rules and records available to them.
The workers cited relevant section of the constitution such as section 42 said:” Our attention has been drawn to a petition against nomination of MRS. REGINA INGEKEM OCHENI,an ambassadorial nominee from Kogi state wherein among other issues raised alleged that the said Mrs. Ocheni is not an indigene of Kogi state.
“The petitioners describe her as from Cross River state but married to Professor Ocheni an indigene of Kogi state.
“We deem it necessary to respond to the said petition as follows:
“That Mrs. Ocheni (a worthy indigene of Kogi state) got married to Prof. Ocheni 35 years ago and subsequently obtained Kogi state indigeneship certificate in 1997
‘With the certificate, she was employed by Kogi state government where she worked for years before transferring her service to the federal civil service which confirms the fact that the good people and government of Kogi state have since identified and recognized her as one of their own,” they said.
They cited section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for freedom against discrimination to Burress their point.
