By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Cheers have come the way of Ibrahim Gambari over his appointment as President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff (COS), in place of Abba Kyari who died of coronavirus on April 17.
Gambari, 75, former Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, is the first non-cabal appointee to the kitchen cabinet of Buhari, whose inner caucus comprises cronies, relatives, and political hawks from the core North.
He was appointed on May 12 to fill the vacuum created by the death of Kyari, who exercised enormous power in Aso Rock and also held meetings with ministers and service chiefs and gave them directives behind Buhari’s back.
Gambari himself comes from a political power base in Kwara, in the North Central, where he is the kinsman of the Emir of Ilori, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
His posh background also includes attending King’s College, Lagos, the London School of Economics, City University of New York, and Columbia University, New York.
Between 1986 and 1989, he was a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University and Howard University, all in the United States.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, congratulated Gambari on his new appointment, which he describes as “a befitting development rooted in dedication, loyalty, and history.”
APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, added that his appointment affirms Buhari’s “commitment to good governance by bringing on board competent Nigerians from all parts of the world to assist him in taking Nigeria to the Next Level.”
Gambari’s experience and suitability for the strategic office of Chief of Staff is not in doubt, Issa-Onilu said in a statement.
He described him as a respected scholar, former minister, and a highly-regarded diplomat, who has worked at the highest level in the UN, including
- Being the under secretary general of the department of political affairs.
- Chairperson, African Union-UN Special Representative for Dafur
- Currently special adviser on International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues to the UN secretary general.
- Founder of Savannah Centre – a research, development, diplomacy and public policy think-tank.
- Co-chair of the Albright-Gambari Commission that addresses issues such as state fragility, climate change, and the cyber‐economy.
“Gambari’s appointment is well-thought out and speaks volumes of [Buhari’s] penchant for excellence,” Issa-Onilu added.
In his view, Gambari “ticks all the boxes as a round peg in a round hole,” and the APC is confident that he will bring to bear his scholarly intellect, international network, professional and administrative experience in the smooth running of the Office of the President.
AbdulRazaq said his appointment is “clearly fit for purpose and is deserving for our own … Gambari whose record of service as a diplomat and global statesman is unblemished.
“Gambari has always been one of the ‘President’s men’ for decades and it is not surprising that he has been appointed at this crucial moment to serve as his chief of staff,” AbdulRazaq explained in a statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
“We commend Mr. President for yet again honouring not just one of his renowned loyalists of all time but also the people of Kwara State who still relive his relationship with one of Nigeria’s finest military officers and son of Kwara late Major General Tunde AbdulBaki Idiagbon.
“We pray God to guide and protect Gambari on this delicate national assignment and to not stop his blessings and protection for … Buhari whose administration continues to impact positively in the lives of the masses.”
