(Ilorin)
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday, congratulated Professor Ibrahim Gambari on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The called the appointment a befitting development rooted in dedication, loyalty, and history.
“The appointment is clearly fit for purpose and is deserving for our own Professor Gambari whose record of service, as a diplomat and global statesman, is unblemished.
” On behalf of my family, the government and people of Kwara State, I congratulate the Wambai Ilorin for this historic appointment,” AbdulRazaq said in a statement by his spokesman Rafiu Ajakaye.
“Professor 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.
“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 the Almighty Allah to guide and protect Professor Gambari on this delicate national assignment and to not stop his blessings and protection for President Muhammadu Buhari whose administration continues to impact positively in the lives of the masses,”he said.
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In similar vein, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, thanked Buhari for appointing Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new Chief of Staff.
The monarch, in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, described the appointment as a great honour to the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwarans at large.
He noted that the choice of the former diplomat would be justified by his outstanding contributions, administrative experience, scholarship and excellence which he would inject into the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
The emir expressed optimism that Gsmbari’s appointment would enhance good governance, democratic dividends as well as shared prosperity in the nation.
While congratulating Gambari on his new appointment, the monarch wished him successful tenure,even as he expressed confidence in his ability to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He will surely bring to fore his wealth of experience as an academician, former Minister, former Diplomat, former University chancellor, Prince of the renown Alimi dynasty, family man and community leader of high repute.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari is the Wambai of Ilorin Emirate
Gambari, a Nigerian scholar-diplomat, was the first Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa (1999-2005). In that capacity, he worked closely with heads of government, key policy makers as well as institutions on the continent to develop the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
During this period, he was concurrently the Resident Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission to Angola (2002-2003).
He wad a delegate to the Assembly of the African Union as a national delegate (1984-1985) and as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s delegation (2000-2012).
Gambari is currently the Founder/Chairman of Savannah Center External link in Abuja, Nigeria, a think-tank for research, training and public policy debate on the nexus between diplomacy (conflict resolution), democracy and development in Africa.
His last assignment at the United Nations was as the Joint Special Representative of the Secretary General and Chairperson of the African Union Commission/Head of the UN and AU Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) from January 2010 to July 2012.
During Ambassador Gambari’s tenure, UNAMID was the world’s largest international peacekeeping mission.
Ambassador Gambari has held several leadership positions at the national, regional and international levels.
He has built extensive contacts with governments as well as public and private institutions, especially in Africa among other accomplishments.
