A former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has been appointed the new Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. With his appointment, he will be replacing Mallam Abba Kyari, who died in April of COVID-19.
Although the Presidency has yet to formally confirm this, there are strong indications that the announcement will be made at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Mr Gambari, 75, who was the first United Nation’s Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa, is said to be “awaiting an official letter of confirmation” as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, according to sources.
Gambari, who was Buhari’s Foreign Minister and confidant as military Head of State in the 1980s, met with the President at about 8am on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja.
In a statement by his aide, Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir of Ilorin confirmed the development by thanking President Muhammadu Buhari “for appointing Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new Chief of Staff.”
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The emir described the appointment as a “great honour to the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwarans at large.”
An aide to Mr Gambari also told Premium Times that “we are awaiting the official letter of confirmation,” after confirming his principal had been notified.
The new Chief of Staff will resume work at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
Gambari, as foreign minister, 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.
A scholar and seasoned diplomat, Gambari served as minister of External Affairs between 1984 and 1985. He was appointed by former United Nations Secretary 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 Nation for the Department of Political Affairs (DPA).
The new chief of Staff, an Ilorin prince, was born on November 24, 1944.
