Barring any last-minute change, President Muhammadu Buhari may officially appoint Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari as his new Chief of Staff (CoS) today. The appointment will fill the space created by the death of Abba Kyarion April 17, 2020 due to coronavirus.
Barely few hours after the body of the late chief of staff was committed to earth, politicians were said to have begun scheming to replace Kyari. The top contenders were thought to include: former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babagana Kingibe; Minister of Education Adamu Adamu; Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika; Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali; Governor Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna State; former Ogun State Governor Ibukunle Amusun; and former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Buhari, however, had been in no hurry to make the appointment and had kept sealed lips as rumours about who would succeed the late Kyari flew around.
Without waiting for an official announcement, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday commended Buhari for the appointment. In a statement released by his media aide, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the emir described the appointment as a great honour to the people of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State.
He said the choice of the former diplomat is justified by the outstanding contributions, administrative experience, scholarship and excellence he would bring to the Buhari administration.
The monarch congratulated Prof. Gambari on the appointment and wished him a successful tenure. He also expressed confidence in his ability to justify the trust reposed in him by Buhari.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
