In what gives a glimpse of what even the more reflexivist section of the (Northern) Nigerian establishment might be thinking about Prof Ibrahim Gambari’s appointment as Chief of Staff to the President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Mohammed Abba Gana, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a member of the Board of Trustees of the main opposition party – the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) has written to congratulate him, calling the appointment apt.
It suggests an overall endorsement of a bipartisan nature although the establishment has its own regional, class, ethnic, religious and other complexity. In other words, there are others who, even within the APC, will be kicking, some loudly and others silently while still others will crawl back to pledge loyalty.
Alhaji Abba Gana
His crisp letter is reproduced below:
My dear Prof. Ibrahim A. Gambari, CFR.
I cannot resist or wait longer to write and congratulate you on your highly recommended and well deserved appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Buhari. No recent or past top appointment in our country has received such universal goodwill from all sections & categories of people than your appointment as CoS. This is because of your own personal qualities, character and impeccable credentials, proven cognate experience, high academic qualifications and impressive achievements in high diplomacy when serving as international civil servant at the high level of the UN.
We congratulate President Buhari for diligently searching and picking the right person for this crucial job in these difficult and trying times and circumstances we are passing through nationally and globally. As competence and suitability of Prof. Gambari are beyond question, let us all pray to Allah (swt) to give him long life, good health, His guidance and blessings and a very successful tenure of office. Amin!
