GAMBARI AND OUR ASO ROCK

Oghogho A. Obayuwana writes that the Chief of Staff is cut out for the job

This is not one of those window dressing pieces that we have become accustomed to in this part of the world, more than being my humble attempt to call forth some tucked in facets of the persona of the recently appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. It is well known that Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari brings on board an intimidating resume that doesn’t need any more unveiling. He not only comes across as a well-trained diplomat but also a grand old technocrat. He is courteous, respectful and very civil, devoid of the usual airs that you find with men of his ilk.

Over the years (and more intensely between the years 2009-2016), I was a steady recipient of his publicly presented papers, besides my scholarly, intellectual and political discussions with him both here in Nigeria and elsewhere especially in places such as New York, Addis Ababa and Abuja. The exchanges had been largely oiled by many of such things including the fact that he was a proponent of concentricism as a foreign policy tool. That is a discussion for another day.

Today, attention is called to his recent appointment vs the polity! What does the man still have that the nation has not already seen? I thought for instance, that he demonstrated remarkable courage when he flayed the decision of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to stay away from the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2009, describing it as a diplomatic blunder, something too costly for Nigeria which at the time was bidding for a seat at the UN Security Council. Gambari who was the in the New York headquarters of the global body as undersecretary-General, blamed the decision on improper advice by Yar’Adua’s aides. Today, he is now one such aide and a very senior one at that!

As an illustrious patriot, his had been a leading voice on the high need for a “national rebuilding”, “national way forward”, “national reformation” or “national reconciliation” (the type desirable in Nigeria).

Poring over professionalism in national development, he had at different times decried the lack of visionary leadership, gamesmanship and statesmanship in Nigeria, following this up by continuously drawing attention to the Nexus between education, development, unity and democratic transformation of Nigeria.

In one such instance where he presented a paper to a professional group, he postulated among others: “Professionalism as a concept speaks first and foremost to excellence. Built into excellence are merit and standards that underpin quality at its best. A true professional is not only a person of great technical competence and managerial ability, even (being) political savvy-but also a standard bearer of civic values and integrity”.

In the same vein, at many other fora, Gambari bemoaned what he called “narrow ethno-regional calculations that had become so integral to national territorial administration and economic governance” which he lamented had now “flung the gates open for mediocrity to triumph in the national life, in the process”.

His maturity in handling sensitive matters is another sterling quality. This was quite palpable when for instance, he received in October 2017, the self-assessment report in his capacity as Chair of the African Union (AU) Verification Team-being a panel of eminent persons raised to

IT MAY VERY WELL BE THAT HE WANTS TO LEAN CLOSE TO PRESIDENT BUHARI AND TELL HIM CERTAIN HOME TRUTHS WHILE SERVING HIM. AT 75, HE HAS NOTHING TO LOSE

ascertain the level of readiness of the ECOWAS standby Force.

Although Covid-19 is the rage of the moment, Prof Gambari had by March 2016, came to certain conclusions on the way Africa should be handling China affairs. At the inaugural conference organised by Yale University, through its MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, in collaboration with Leading business schools in China and on the African continent, Gambari as chairman of Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, sued for greater awareness of “cultural clashes” in the course of forging a reinvigorated Sino-Africa partnership, with the impression being created that local sensitivities are being ignored and that African partners are not viewed as true equals.

He was of the opinion that “African countries need to develop individual, sub-regional and regional strategies promote greater environmental responsibility and environmentally-friendly technologies” while working against corruption in all its forms.

Gambari has since hit the ground running, resuming on May 13, 2020, and immediately getting involved in a virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. And as reported, he paid a courtesy visit to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) shortly after that first e-cabinet meeting. The latter activity indicates that a new chapter in inter agency cooperation and intra bureaucratic services collaboration is being opened. Well, this is his turf. After all, Gambari had met his peace and reconciliation objectives in missions such as Darfur and Myanmar!

Professor Gambari once chaired the Niger Delta Peace Committee. When he was resigning from that Committee in July 2008, he wrote to President Umaru Yar’ Adua at the time: “My appointment has attracted what appears to be a well-orchestrated and relentless opposition from some quarters, institutions, groups and individuals.”

Today, even with the smear campaign, he wouldn’t be needing to write such a memo for he has come full cycle to know how to call Aso Rock “shots” as a backroom boss. Although, it may very well be that he wants to lean close to President Buhari and tell him certain home truths while serving him. At 75, he has nothing to lose if he does that. His experience and exposure means he can easily reach out. This, being a plus for the presidency as he takes the reins of what may be his public service twilight gift to fatherland.

Now, the misgivings hovering around the circus of columnists and critics all the more rightly or wrongly, shape the public opinion of him. But it is up to Gambari to conduct the brief of his business with his principal more quietly than hitherto, with the expected gravitas and sensitivity, such that those of us who knew him to a certain degree could say: Ah! Yes, we told you, that his artistry did not just come about because he is from Ilorin and dark skinned with a slightly marked cheek, or an unrepentant Mohammedan or that he could speak softly over hard matters, and all of that, but because truly, the deeper values of his resume’s condiments, stick fittingly to him. Obayuwana is a former Foreign Affairs Editor of The Guardian, now with the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States