By Dansu Peter
Many unofficial reports have indicated that the President has already opted for Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.
According to The Nation newspaper, a top source, who spoke in confidence said: “Out of the list of about 14 candidates available to the President, Gambari is the least exposed to the vagaries of Nigerian politics. He is a diplomat and an international bureaucrat.
“The appointment was made to pick an apolitical fellow and to correct the mistake of the past where the Office of the Chief of Staff is exposed to politics and pressure from politicians.
“To move forward, the President wants to restrict his Chief of Staff to bureaucratic schedule and not political manoeuvres in order to fast-track the implementation of the goals of his administration.
“The manner of jostling for the Office of the Chief of Staff since the death of the former occupant of the office actually suggested that those who have political ambitions were desperate for it.
“The international profile of Gambari played a significant role in his appointment. Buhari is looking at global politics after the post-COVID-19 pandemic and opted for an experienced hand in Gambari whose mileage can add credibility to his government and attract goodwill
“Bilateral and multilateral relations will take the centre stage after the Coronavirus pandemic and he needs a respected international bureaucrat to assist his government to reach out to the world.”
The source added: “Although some ministers are very close to the President, he avoided appointing any of them because upgrading a minister will not help the system.”
Among those considered, according to sources are:
1. Ambassador Babagana Kingibe;
2. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu;
3. Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali;
4. Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha;
5. Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai;
6. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties, Ya’u Shehu Darazo;
7. Former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa;
8. The immediate past Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi
9 Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu;
10. The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Sarki Mukhtar Abba;
11. The Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar;
12. 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.
The choice of Prof. Gambari if actually confirmed, will indeed make history. He will use the knowledge, the wisdom, the international exposure and the maturity at his disposal to assist the President in consolidating the gains of his administration. The next phase of this administration needs characters like Prof. Gambari to guide our amiable PMB to navigate the deep waters.
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