By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Finally, after much hide and seek by the presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday unveiled Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new chief of staff.
Gambari, a professor of political science and Nigeria’s former permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), replaces Mallam Abba Kyari, who died last month of COVID-19.
The unveiling was done at the maiden virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by the president. The meeting took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja,.
The virtual meeting involved the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and some of the cabinet ministers. The only new face was Professor Gambari.
Some of the cabinet members including the Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, participated in the meeting directly from their respective offices.
The meeting which started at about 11.22 am was conducted in line with the basic COVID-19 protocol of social distancing.
A minute silence was observed in honour of late Malam Abba Kyari before the commencement of the meeting. Today’s meeting is the first to be held since his demise.
Shortly after, the SGF formally announced Gambari as the new chief of staff to the President, thereby effectively ending the speculation of who wears the late Kyari’s big shoes.
Gambari took his official seat as Chief of Staff to the President immediate after the introduction by the SGF.
The speculation came to a head on Tuesday when Gambari’s name started trending in the social media as Kyari’s successor.
Attempt by TheNiche to confirm the story from the presidency wasn’t successful as Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, neither confirmed nor denied the story.
“You know how we release stories from the presidency. There is an official channel. If there is such a news, it will come from the official channel,” was Adesina’s response.
Also read: https://www.thenicheng.com/has-buhari-appointed-gambari-new-chief-of-staff/
But there was no statement from the presidency until Gambari surfaced at Aso Rock today for the FEC meeting.
Gambari, who was Buhari’s Foreign Minister between 1984 and 1985 and confidant as military Head of State, was said to have met with the President at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja.
A scholar and seasoned diplomat, as foreign minister, Gambari played a key role in quelling the diplomatic uproar generated by the failed attempt to kidnap Mallam Umaru Dikko from UK by the Buhari military government.
Gambari was appointed by former United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur in 2010.
He also served as Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the UN Secretary General. Prior to that, he served as Under-Secretary Generay of the United Nations for the Department of Political Affairs (DPA).
An Ilorin prince, Professor Ibrahim Gambari was born on November 24, 1944.
