Ibrahim Gambari: In Fullest of Time, By Issa Aremu
POLITICS DIGEST – The bipartisan, national and global appreciation of the appointment of the scholar-diplomat of Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR, as the 5th Chief of Staff (COS) in the current democratic dispensation indicates that he is eminently qualified to assist President Buhari in Nigeria’s stride for nation building.
Post humous praise trailed the death of the late chief of staff. The sudden exit of Mallam Abba Kyari definitely left a big vacuum at the Presidency. Professor Ibrahim A. Gambari has the singular responsibility to continue the good work of the late COS, of course with a quality control of the legacy of his predecessor.
As the head of the Presidential aides and principal coordinator of the policy vision of the president, Professor Gambari brings to the Presidency impressive triple heritage of scholarship, statesmanship/ diplomacy and civil society/ private experiences spanning decades.
So much heat, (as opposed to illumination!) had been generated over an appointment of a septuagenarian working for a septuagenarian president. Certainly, age does matter. More so given that both the president and his chief of staff once served the country in their respective prime ages. However, I agree with Mariam Makeba, the late South Africa activist singer, who once observed that ‘Age ain’t nothin’ but a number’. But age is other things, too. It is wisdom, if one has lived one’s life properly. It is experience and knowledge”.
I am more interested in the age of the ideas of public officers, young and old alike. The relevance of the timeliness of Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s impeccable credentials cannot be over emphasised. Modest achievements of President Muhamadu Buhari in the critical three-point agenda of security, anti- corruption and the repositioning the economy have been well documented.
An African received wisdom puts it succinctly: “You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla”. Professor Gambari is expected to upscale the good work of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) in coordinating and overseeing Nigeria’s multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts to contain the spread of the disease.
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Therefore, the appointment of the -diplomat, statesman and non-state activist is in the fullest of time of the second term of President Buhari. The former United Nations Under-Secretary General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa (1999-2005), former Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid (1990-1994) and on Peace-Keeping Operations (1990—1999) and Head of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (2005-2007) and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Cyprus, Zimbabwe and Myanmar and Special Representative in Angola is better positioned to mobilise important material and policy resources to contain the pandemic, which has infected almost 5 million humans in all countries claiming over 300,000 lives.
Professor Gambari, Founder/Chairman of the Board of Directors of Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, a non-governmental think-tank on research, policy studies, brings his wealth of experience in advocacy, inclusivity, and training on the prevention and management of an attacking virus for which there is no vaccine yet.
CBN, under Godwin Emefiele, had commendably initiated series of measures that could turn the current “tragedy into opportunities” for Nigeria’s development. Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, and Labour Minister, Chris Igige, had also commendably announced recovery plans to stimulate the economy and create jobs in all local governments. Also, in place is Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) a joint effort between the bankers’ committee and the private sector under the supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Nigeria needs urgently a quality control of these quantitative measures and initiatives with an eye stemming the ever rising curve and worsening poverty and wealth obliteration. The challenge is to work towards a new economic paradigm that must stress inclusion, diversification, productivity, equity, mass decent jobs, smart work, poverty eradication and self reliance.
In the wake of total break down of the global supply chains, Nigeria must produce what it consumes starting with health and well care services and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Happily, President Buhari had long proactively signed Executive Orders 003 and 005, which legitimise local patronage in procurements to boost local production and create sustainable jobs out of the promised 100 million jobs in a decade.
Given the enormous challenges before the administration, the public must give the necessary support to the new chief of staff in order for him to hit the ground running in making an urgent difference. Acrimony and suspicion among stakeholders must give way to constructive engagement and cooperation to protect lives and ensure sustainable livelihoods in the country as well as recovery of the economy from the negative impact of coronavirus on the economy.
Policy monologue must give way to policy dialogue. Transparency and consultation will remove doubts and inspire creative suggestions that would help President Buhari to ensure peace and stability, being necessary condition for growth and development.
As a labour delegate to 2014 National Conference, I bear witness that Professor Ibrahim Agboloa Gambari, was among the eminent elders who set the guidelines for consensus building, which led to the success of that historic confab such that notwithstanding legitimate differences, the Confab built unprecedented national solidarity and consensus for national development on all critical issues as industry, trade and investment, labour, religion, energy, political restructuring, devolution of powers and foreign policy among others without rancour and without acrimonious votes counting.
