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Tag: Chief of Staff

  • Olu of Warri hails Gambari’s appointment as Chief of Staff

    Olu of Warri hails Gambari’s appointment as Chief of Staff

    The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli has hailed the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as the new Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The monarch in a statement on Thursday in Warri, described the appointment as a well-deserved one.

    According to him, Gambari is a detribalised Nigerian with huge wealth of experience in conflict prevention and resolution among others.

    “The appointment of Prof. Gambari as the new CoS to President Buhari came to us in Warri as good news.

    “Good news because we know the professor as an intelligent, well-travelled, well-read and a detribalised Nigerian with vast knowledge of the country.

    “I, therefore, write on behalf of myself and the entire people of Warri kingdom to congratulate and wish him resounding success in this assignment.

    “Prof Gambari comes to this job with huge credentials, one of which is his versatile experience in conflict prevention and resolution.

    “We hope he will bring the experience to bear in performing his duties to assist the President in the continued peaceful resolution and development of the Niger Delta,” the Olu of Warri said.

    The monarch was optimistic that with the huge credentials of the new CoS and long-time good relationship with the President, Gambari would contribute immensely to the actualisation of the next level agenda of the President.

    “I join other well-meaning Nigerians to pray for him and Mr President.

    “May the Almighty God protect and give him the wisdom to succeed and do the job in a creditable manner,” he prayed.

  • New CoS drops bombshell: I report directly to Buhari, not Nigerians – Gambari

    New CoS drops bombshell: I report directly to Buhari, not Nigerians – Gambari

    The new Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has said his primary allegiance would be to President Muhammadu Buhari and not the public.

    The Chief of staff stated this on Wednesday when he spoke briefly to State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa.

    He started out by thanking President Buhari for deeming him worthy to serve in the new capacity, adding that he would serve the President to the best of his ability.

    “I thank the President of the Federal Republic for giving me the opportunity to serve him and of course, the country”, he said.

    Asked what Nigerians should expect from him as Chief of Staff, he said “we have not started, I’ll have to find out. I don’t report directly to the nation, I report to the President”.

    About what he has to offer the President, he said “my loyalty, competence and support”, adding that his guiding principle as Chief of Staff would be “to serve the President to the best of my ability”

  • JUST IN: Buhari formally unveils Gambari as new Chief of Staff [Photos]

    JUST IN: Buhari formally unveils Gambari as new Chief of Staff [Photos]

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday appointed and unveiled Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari as the new Chief of Staff.

    JUST IN: Buhari, formally unveils Gambari as new Chief of Staff [Photos]

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, made the announcement on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which held virtually, with just a few of council members physically in attendance.

    He will replace Mallam Abba Kyari who passed away on 17 April after succumbing to coronavirus complications.

    Prof. Gambari, 75, is a Nigerian scholar, diplomat and an indigene of Kwara state.

    Gambari, who has the national title of CFR was born November 24, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    He was educated at King’s College, Lagos.

    He later went to London School of Economics where he obtained his B. Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) with specialisation in International Relations.

    In 1970, he obtained an M.A. from Columbia University, New York and a PHD in the same school in 1974.

    Gambari had held various offices in diplomatic fields and other governance roles over the years.

    Professor Ibrahim Gambari served Nigeria’s former military head of states, including General Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was Buhari’s foreign affairs minister in 1984-1985, after serving as the DG of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

    He later went on to become Nigeria’s permanent representative at the United Nations from 1990-1999 at a time two of Nigeria’s infamous dictators were in full bloom.

    He was Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Special Adviser on Africa and many other diplomatic assignments.

  • CoS: Profile of Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Buhari’s replacement for late Abba Kyari

    CoS: Profile of Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Buhari’s replacement for late Abba Kyari

    Sequel to the death of Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff (CoS) since 2015, the president has settled down for Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari as new Chief of Staff.

    Though the appointment is yet to be formally announced, however, impeccable sources in the presidency confirmed the appointment to TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) saying a formal announcement will be made on Wednesday (today).

    Here are some salient facts about the new Chief of Staff;

    Birth

    Born on November 24, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari is a blue blood of Ilorin Emirate of the Fulani ruling class family. His nephew, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, is the incumbent Emir of Illorin.

    Education

    He attended the prestigious King’s College, Lagos before proceeding to the famous London School of Economics where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) degree in Economics in 1968 with specialisation in International Relations. He later obtained his Masters degree (M.A.) in 1970 and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) degree in Political Science /International Relations in 1974 from Columbia University, New York, United States (US).

    Teaching Career

    While adding to his degrees at the Ivory Tower, Prof Gambari began his teaching career in 1969 at City University of New York before working at University of Albany. He taught at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), in Zaria, Kaduna State. From 1986 to 1989, he was Visiting Professor at three universities in Washington, D.C. They were Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University and Howard University. He was also a research fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. and a Resident Scholar at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center, the Rockefeller Foundation-run center, in Italy.

    Diplomatic Career

    Prof Gambari’s diplomatic career as the Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985 under General Buhari’s military regime and his sojourn as Nigeria’s longest serving ambassador, made him to serve under five Heads of State and Presidents. .He was the ninth foreign or external affairs minister, succeeding Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who later held sway at the Commonwealth as its Secretary-General.

    Prof Gambari was appointed Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations, where he held sway for nine years from 1990 to 1999. In 1999, he became President, United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) . He was Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Adviser on Africa from 1999 to 2005 and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs from 2005 to 2007.

    Prof Gambari is the co-chair of the Albright-Gambari Commission and member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars. He was decorated with the title of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Government of Nigeria and accorded, honoris causa, the title of Doctor of Humane Letters (D.Hum.Litt.) from the University of Bridgeport. On March 4, 2013, Gambari was named by the then Governor of Kwara Abdulfatah Ahmad as the Chancellor of the Kwara State University.

  • Emir of Ilorin lauds Buhari on appointment of Gambari as new Chief of Staff

    Emir of Ilorin lauds Buhari on appointment of Gambari as new Chief of Staff

    The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new Chief of Staff.

    Alhaji Sulu-Gambari in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona and maid available to newsmen said the appointment as a great honour to the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwarans at large.

    However, the presidency is yet to confirm the appointment.

    The president’s media aides and officials from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, declined comment on the said appointment. They asked our reporters to wait for an official statement.

    Kindly subscribe here Prof. Gambari will be replacing Mallam Abba Kyari, who died in April, after battling COVID-19.

    Alhaji Sulu-Gambari 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 towards ensuring good governance, democratic dividends as well as shared prosperity in the nation.

    While congratulating Professor Gambari on the new appointment, the monarch wished him a successful tenure in office 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. He is a Nigerian scholar and diplomat. He was Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985. Gambari was appointed by the then secretary-general of United Nations Ban Ki-moon and the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur in 2010.

  • BREAKING: Buhari appoints Prof. Agboola Gambari as new Chief of Staff

    BREAKING: Buhari appoints Prof. Agboola Gambari as new Chief of Staff

    Professor Agboola Ibrahim Gambari has been appointed as the new chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Department of Political Affairs, who is an indigene of Kwara State, was appointed to replace the late Abba Kyari on Tuesday, May 12.

    Although the presidency is yet to announce the new appointment, an insider source in Aso Rock told TheNEwsGuru(TNG) that the announcement will be made at the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

    Every attempt TNG made to reach the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, proved abortive as at the time this report was filed.

    Prof Agboola Gambari’s profile:

    He is a Nigerian scholar, diplomat and an indigene of Kwara State was appointed to replace the late Abba Kyari on Tuesday, May 12.

    Professor Gambari, 75, was the former Minister for External Affairs between 1984 to 1985.

    He was appointed chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur in 2010.

    Ban Ki moon appointed him as Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of UN in 2007.

  • CSO cautions security agents over intimidation and harassment of ex-Edo State Chief of Staff

    CSO cautions security agents over intimidation and harassment of ex-Edo State Chief of Staff

    A civil society organization, Generational Citizens for Better Leadership Initiative in Benin City, Edo State, has cautioned security agencies in the state to desist from intimidating and harassing the former chief of staff to Governor Obaseki, Comrade Taiwo Akerele.

    In a press statement signed and released to the media on Thursday Morning in Benin City by the spokesperson of the group Comrade, Etinosa Uwangue cautioned security agents and implore them to desist from harassing and intimidating the former chief of staff or his private staff.

    The former chief of staff to the Edo State Governor Taiwo Akerele is a law-abiding citizen of the state who has served the state meritoriously until his resignation and as such does not deserve the kind of treatment been melted down on him.

    If he is needed by the security agents, it is advised they follow appropriate channels provided by the constitution rather than the Gestapo style they are using.

    The spokesperson for the group further demanded a probe into the alleged invasion of the former chief of staff residence in Benin city by armed security agents and also calling the state commissioner of Police and DSS Edo state command to call their officers and men to order.

  • DSS officials invade, ransack Obaseki’s ex-CoS Taiwo Akerele’s residence, arrest aide

    DSS officials invade, ransack Obaseki’s ex-CoS Taiwo Akerele’s residence, arrest aide

    No fewer than 25 operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) on Sunday evening invaded the private residence of former Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Chief Taiwo Akerele.

    The development is an indication that things might have fallen apart between the Governor and his erstwhile closest staff.

    Recall that Akerele resigned his position as Chief of Staff on Friday night and was replaced with Ethan Uzamere, Saturday night by Obaseki.

    According to multiple newspaper reports, the operatives were said to have arrived the residence located off 1st Ugbor Road, GRA, in Benin, at about 5 pm in an 18-seater bus and three operational vehicles of Operation Wabaizigan.

    It was gathered that a security detail to the Governor had earlier called the Personal Assistant to the former CoS, Jasper Olowojoba to come and remove Akerele’s personal belongings from his former office.

    Olowojoba, who was said to have replied that he would remove the items on Monday, was however prevailed upon to come immediately.

    Security men attached to the office were said to have allowed him to remove all the belongings, after which they followed him home.

    Thereafter, Olowojoba was arrested after using him to search Akerele’s house.

    An unnamed source closed to the former Chief of Staff, allegedly told journalists that the whereabouts of Akerele who received visitors in his house earlier in the day, remained unknown.

    “They called his PA severally that he should come and collect Akerele’s personal belongings so that the new Chief of Staff could resume, but Olowojoba said he would come for them on Monday but they insisted he must come immediately.

    “When he went, they allowed him to remove all his belongings and when they were going with the last consignment, SSS (operatives) went with him to Akerele’s house. They ransacked his house and then went away with his PA, but Akerele’s whereabouts is unknown,” the source said.

  • Obaseki appoints new Chief of Staff

    Obaseki appoints new Chief of Staff

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has appointed Osaze Ethan Uzamere as his Chief of Staff.

    He replaces the former Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, who resigned from Obaseki’s kitchen cabinet on Friday.

    The 38-year-old investment banker is son of Senator Ehigie Uzamere, who represented Edo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011.

    He graduated from Stony Brook University, New York, where he majored in Computer and Electrical Engineering.

    He has had stints with Lehman Brothers and South Grade Engineering, among others.

    Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, in a statement Saturday night, said the appointment takes immediate effect.

    The statement described the younger Uzamere as a thorough-bred professional, who had before his appointment, served as Executive Assistant to Governor Obaseki.

  • Akerele, Obaseki’s Chief of Staff resigns

    Akerele, Obaseki’s Chief of Staff resigns

    The Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, has resigned.

    His resignation was not unconnected with the persistent crisis between the Governor and the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    In his resignation letter dated 25th April 2020, Akerele said; “My decision to exit the government is based on administrative and governance grounds.

    “I am solidly with His excellency Mr Godwin Obaseki in his quest to transform Edo state. His mission and vision resonate with mine.

    “This is all I have to say, I will like to be given the opportunity to go private as I part ways administratively with the government based on principles.

    “I thank his excellency for the opportunity given to me to serve in this capacity and also thanks to His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for his immense leadership and support during the period I served in this capacity. May his reign be long and peaceful. Amen.”