President Muhammadu Buhari has tapped a former Under United Nations Secretary as his Chief of Staff, it was learnt on Tuesday.
Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, 75, is expected to assume office today as replacement for the late Mallam Abba Kyari, who served in the post since 2015 until April 17 when he died from Coronavirus complications.
It was learnt that the President picked Gambari, who was Minister of External (Foreign) Affairs during his time as Military Head of State between January 1984 and August 1985 because he is apolitical.
The President, according to sources had a breakfast session with the renowned diplomat yesterday where he offered him the appointment.
He was reportedly picked from a list of 14 others screened for the position, which is the clearing house in the office of the President.
Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina neither confirmed nor denied the appointment of Gambari. There was also no official communication.
Adesina said yesterday when contacted: “An announcement will be made during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting tomorrow (today).”
A virtual FEC will hold on Wednesday, the first after weeks of partial lockdown of the State House since mid-March – over the outbreak of Coronavirus.
It was learnt that the President opted for Gambari because of his patience and reputation as an international bureaucrat.
Another factor which informed the President’s position was Gambari’s unofficial advisory role since 2015 without asking for any favour.
It was gathered that the President listed his expectations when he met with Gambari.
A highly-placed source said: “The appointment was sealed at an early morning meeting between the President and Gambari.
“The meeting had barely ended when many foreign embassies got the hint and they became excited about the President’s choice.”
Among those considered, according to sources are: Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha; Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties, Ya’u Shehu Darazo; a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa; and the immediate past Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi
Others are Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Sarki Mukhtar Abba; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and a former Governor of Kano State, Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau.
Gambari will become the nation’s fifth Chief of Staff since 1999.
He will be the second office holder from Ilorin to occupy the Office of the Chief of Staff after Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed.
In the last 21 years, Nigeria has had four Chiefs of Staff. These are: Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed — 1999-2008; Mike Oghiadomhe — 2010-2014; Gen. Jones Arogbofa — 2014-2015; and Mallam Abba Kyari -2015 – April 17, 2020.
Although ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua scrapped the Office of Chief of Staff in 2008, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan reintroduced it in 2010.
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