The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of Prof. Ibrahim Gambiri as his new Chief of Staff.
In a communique issued at the end of an emergency virtual meeting on Thursday, the UK-based Nigerians described the diplomat’s appointment as a “plus to the country’s image abroad”.
Abba Kyari’s shock demise in April left a huge vacuum in the presidency, which was already being felt.
And Prof. Gambari was handed that monstrous task on Wednesday and Nigerians in diaspora has joined their compatriots back home to commend the move.
Being a seasoned diplomat and academia, the Nigerians said that Prof. Gambari comes with pedigree and would offer credibility to President Buhari’s administration, especially in the international community.
The group believes his wealth of experience would impact positively on the administrative and policy direction of the federal government.
The Nigerians expressed total support for the president, who according to them, displayed statesmanship, putting the interest of Nigerians in appointments into sensitive positions of authorities in the country.
The group, however, urged the new CoS to swiftly hit the ground running and ensure that the nation comes ahead of his personal interest.
Read full communique below:
A communique issued after an emergency general virtual meeting of Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, United Kingdom, assessing the appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Introduction:
The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK) is a think tank of Nigerian intellectuals resident in the United Kingdom and devoted to dissecting issues on development and governance in Nigeria, and to avail informed and expert advisory services to the Nigerian government on a sector by sector basis.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK) have in times past and through its vast network of members availed the Nigerian government laudable policy initiatives that have been implemented by previous administrations to the benefits of Nigeria and Nigerians.
The Issues:
The recent appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has elicited reactions from various quarters and as such an emergency general virtual meeting was called by the leadership of Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group to deliberate on the suitability and otherwise of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as Chief of Staff to the President.
The virtual meeting was well-attended, and an ad-hoc committee on leadership and governance was constituted to examine the resume of Prof Ibrahim Gambari, amongst other issues.
The Deliberations:
After extensive deliberations, the ad-hoc committee made the following observations:
That the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari would give credibility to the Muhammadu Buhari led administration given his background as a professor of political science, a diplomat and an academician that has taught as various notable universities around the globe.
The Prof Ibrahim Gambari is coming at a time where Nigeria is in dire need of a seasoned administrator to assist in fine-tuning government policies, offering sound and balanced advice to the President on issues that concern governance and development.
That Prof Ibrahim Gambari’s pedigree and international clout would serve as an image booster for Nigeria among the comity of Nations.
That Prof Ibrahim Gambari’s wealth of experience would impact positively on the administrative and policy direction of the Nigerian government.
The Consensus:
Members of the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring group were unanimous in accepting the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
That President Muhammadu Buhari with this appointment is desirous of putting Nigeria on the path of greatness.
That Prof Ibrahim Gambari’s dexterity, extensive international contacts would be of immense benefit to Nigeria.
That Nigerians are particularly elated about the choice of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari being a nationalist, a patriot and true democrat whose wealth of experience in both local and international politics is second to none in all ramifications.
Our Stand:
The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK) lauds President Muhammadu Buhari for his display of statesmanship and putting into consideration the interest of Nigerians in making appointments into sensitive positions of authorities in the country.
That Prof Ibrahim Gambari must strive to avail Nigeria his services by putting National Interest above personal interest.
That Prof Ibrahim Gambari must understand the enormity of the task at hand and must consequently hit the ground running.
That Prof Ibrahim Gambari understands that the former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari has left a big shoe behind and he must work very hard in line with the President’s vision to restore normalcy, sanity and transparency in the conduct of affairs within the corridors of power.
That President Muhammadu Buhari choice is indeed the best for Nigeria and another value addition as a whole.
Conclusion:
The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK) herby states that the appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari is worthy, timely and in the overall interest of Nigeria and expresses no doubt that his impact on governance would felt in no distant time.