In the first confirmation of Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari as the new Chief of State to President Muhammadu Buhari, Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has thanked President Buhari for the appointment.
The appointment has not been officially announced by the President or any official of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Professor Gambari, 75, who was the first United Nation’s Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa, is said to be “awaiting an official letter of confirmation” as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, according to multiple sources.
In a statement by his aide, Abdulazeez Arowona, the Ilorin Emir thanked President Muhammadu Buhari “for appointing Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new Chief of Staff.”
The emir described the appointment as a “great honour to the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwarans at large.”
Gambari, is from Ilorin.
An aide to Gambari also said that “we are awaiting the official letter of confirmation,” after confirming his principal had been notified.
Mr Gambari, from Kwara State, north-central Nigeria, is replacing Abba Kyari, the powerful presidential aide who died, aged 67, last month following COVID-19 complications.
Femi Adesina, a spokesperson for Mr Buhari, did not answer calls placed to get an official comment for this report.
Mr Gambari was also not picking calls for comment Tuesday afternoon.
However, Garba Shehu, another presidential spokesman said he had not been briefed on the development when contacted by reporters.
However, multiple sources said Gambari had been vetted for the role and he would be officially announced at the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday barring any change.
The Chief of Staff is the Nigerian president’s gate-keeper and topmost executive aide. The office became enormously influential like never before with late Abba Kyari, who empowered by Buhari to coordinate virtually all aspects of governance.
Gambari was the External Affairs Minister (1984-1985) under Buhari’s spell as a military Head of State.