The author
Prof Hassan A. Saliu
Introduction
No doubt, many birthday celebrations have been held in honour of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari but none can compare with the 2024 edition in terms of number of activities lined up for the occasion and the glamour with which it was held last year. This, to my mind, is a testament to how people appreciate the celebrant and the impact he has made in people’s lives, covering many sectors.
In the month of November 2024, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari celebrated his 80th birthday in a grand style with a number of activities lined up to mark the occasion. One of such activities took place in Ilorin with a book launch in his honour. The Festschrift was reviewed by no less a personality than the immediate past Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN, Prof. Mohammed Tijjani Bande. A 34 chapter book, covering over 600 pages was contributed by a variety of scholars and it was organised by the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni of Nigeria (COSFAN), under the leadership of Dr. Ekundayo Samuel. Its public presentation was held at the Banquet Hall, opposite Government House in Ilorin. This was followed by another outing in Abuja, a cocktail party organized by the staff of the Savannah Centre established by the celebrant in Abuja 0n 23rd of November. The third leg was a prayer session held at the residence of Prof. Gambari in Abuja for a select few on the 24th of November, 2024. Later, on the same day, the climax of the celebration was a public reception that was held at the Eyebrow A-Class Event Centre, Abuja. It was kick-started by a keynote speech delivered by the newly elected Ghanaian President, John Mahama.
Judging by the array of personalities who graced the occasion across countries, it was a huge gathering that attracted who is who in the society, extending to attract some members of the diplomatic corps and other foreign dignitaries. Most significant at the event were the speeches delivered by former President Muhammadu Buhari, under whom the celebrant served on two different occasions, the latest being as his Chief of Staff when he was elected as Nigeria’s President and the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu.
The Concept of Greatness
Greatness is a highly coveted attainment that all human beings desire and pray for. However, it is not everyone that can attain greatness because it is not a common favour. Things must be fed into something before one can arrive at greatness. There are two broad categories of greatness that one can talk about on this occasion. One is divine. The problem with this type of greatness is that it is difficult to explain when attained; it can happen in an inexplicable circumstance. The other type is explainable because it is earned through efforts incubated by hard work that can be seen as the product of the individual concerned. Some levers can accelerate it or bring it about. One’s background may be the enabler; one can be from a royal family or a highly influential family. In that case, one can say that half of the job is done as one can always leverage on that to attain greatness. Some other times, greatness may be attained without one being born with a silver spoon. The path to it may be through seizing opportunities that come one’s way and converting them into goals as we often say in football.
What this means is that greatness is attained as a result of hard work. This type of greatness from experiences across the globe is what endures and it is much valued by the people. One can be from a noble family but one may not be too hard working and that is the underlining factor. In such a situation, the chances are a kind of 50-50 situation. However, whenever we have royalty combining fittingly with hard work, one can almost be certain that the end result will be the generation of desirable impacts that will be recognised by all lovers of success and greatness. This trajectory has been recognised by some authors who have written about some personalities in marking their birthdays.
The Man: Ibrahim Agboola Gambari
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari is a fitting mix of circumstances of his birth and being at the right places at the right time. He therefore fits the bill of the various descriptions that he has been given. He is a Prince who does not always wear the toga. He prefers to be addressed as IAG. Unless one looks at him deeply, hardly can one see and appreciate the royalty in him; calmness and sure-footedness. Otherwise, he is one’s everyday man or the next neighbour. He is nevertheless very proud of the heritage though not always loud about it and will prefer to sneak in and out of issues normally without wanting people to know that he is a member of the royal family in Ilorin. Not for any other thing but for his humility.
In one of his recollections, the name he bears once created a scene for the various subjective interpretations that have been given to it in places that are not too far from Ilorin. Why would he not be proud of the circumstances of his birth, no matter what may be conjured in the minds of people about it?
Without being a historian, I argue that his dynasty in Ilorin is a unique one because it came about not necessarily through a prolonged period of wars. Its foundation, in my view, was consensual between the two important figures in the history of Ilorin. It was evident that the two mutual friends later turned out to have irreconcilable differences between them at a point. It was at that point that a war ensued between them that led to the start of the Ilorin Emirate. The circumstances of the birth of Ilorin are similar to the historical routes that major towns far and near to it have gone through. Afonja, one of historical figures in Ilorin history, was for the creation of an empire out of the old Oyo which one cannot criminalize him for; that was the trend at that point in time when conquests and annexations were the order of the day.
Sheikh Salihi Ibn Junta (Sheikh Alimi), as he is popularly known in history, on the other hand, was another historical figure in Ilorin emirate. He was for the creation of a Jamaa of Muslims for the spread of Islam. He, too, cannot be criminalized for that. These contradictory objectives were to later create problems between them that led to wars during their lifetimes and after. Whatever descriptions that people may want to use to describe Ilorin town now, the fact of the matter is that the strong Islamic roots have been dictating everything about the town in over two centuries of its existence, among the diverse people that populate it. Any understanding that eclipses the strong religious roots that have been planted in Ilorin at a certain point in time in its evolution, will only complicate matters in understanding its soul and modern existence.
Another uniqueness of the dynasty is that it was brought about by Muslims from all the neighbouring states and perhaps also from beyond under Sheikh Alimi, whose main concern was the propagation of Islam. To correct the erroneous belief in some quarters, the majority of the Muslims who migrated and lived in the town at that point in time voluntarily gave him the title of Amir-mumini, which translates to “the most faithful”. The political angle to his evangelism came much later. Even at that, he refused to be the first Emir despite the pressures that were brought to bear on him to serve in that capacity. He was offered the platform by his Jamaa because of his level of purity and knowledge of Islam that was higher as compared to other clerics who were his contemporaries in Ilorin at that historical juncture.
The co-existence of several cultures that were hammered out in a special governance structure has given the Ilorin Emirate its uniqueness of being a melting point of many cultures, living together peacefully up till today though not without its occasional challenges. The political structure so established has given a sense of belonging to all the diverse ethnic groups that populate the Emirate. This is another unique feature of Ilorin that is not being appreciated by people who have formed the habit of re-writing Ilorin history for their own sake.
Prof Gambari
Prof. Gambari is a proud member of the enduring Alimi dynasty in Ilorin. He is from the Emir Abdulsalami lineage. His roots can also be traced to Emir Shuaibu Bawa down the line who died in 1919. In the immediacy, he is from the Laofe family that the reigning and our revered Emir, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, is also from through the 9th Emir, Alhaji Zulkainani Gambari. He therefore has all the carriage of a Prince, as attested to by no less a personality than the current President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but he trusted his ability outside its circles. He is a typical case of where royalty meets with hard work to produce progress. He is a workaholic who, unknown to many, had tasted a bit of hardship in his growing up years. He attended a public school in the rustic Malete village/town before the Kwara State University was cited there, transforming it into an urban centre. His determination to succeed made him prioritize hard work. All this showed in the schools he later attended, both at home and abroad.
In as much as one cannot truly rule out the role played by royal support in his ascendancy, the value-addition he made to Nigeria’s foreign policy as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN played a catalytic role in the phenomenon that he has grown to become in the world.
A Review of the Tributes
This review starts with the keynote speech given by the newly inaugurated President of Ghana, His Excellency, John Mahama, at the grand finale of the birthday celebration at A-Class Event Centre in Abuja. The speech acknowledged the commendable efforts put into serving humanity by Prof. Gambari. In his view, which he warmly expressed towards the Ilorin Prince, whom he considered as a tireless worker for peace across the globe, President Mahama sees him as a man of Nigeria’s extraction but he is bigger than being restricted to a country by virtue of his diverse contributions to humanity. He remarked: While Professor Gambari’s roots are firmly planted in Nigeria, his vision has always been global. He understands that the challenges facing humanity are interconnected, and that true service cannot be bound by national borders…In (doing this), he has embodied the principle that service to humanity is universal. Whether working to mediate peace in Sudan, advocating for Nigeria’s role on the world stage, or fostering partnerships for sustainable development, his contributions remind us that the legacy of service is not confined to any country or continent, but is part of a shared responsibility to improve the world for future generations.
He concluded his speech by throwing a challenge: “I encourage each of us here today to think about how we can build upon the legacy of service that Prof. Gambari has so generously shared with us.” He was represented at the occasion due to the pressure of the recently concluded electoral cycle in Ghana, in which he was a star participant.
Coming after that of the President of Ghana was the tribute written by Femi Aje, a retired Foreign Service Officer in Nigeria. He addressed the essence of Prof. Gambari. In his own submission, he sees him as a special being created for a purpose. That was why, in his view, he is different from others. While others make their students subservient to them for life, he considers them as friends and colleagues who he treats with dignity. He remarked further: “Yea, all good things fall your way because of the God-given talents.” He continued: “Many of your ilks are not created in large numbers! Assuming it is not so, the world, especially Nigeria, would have been a better place (to live in).” No doubt, providence does play a role in Prof. Gambari’s attainments. However, it is also clear that his hard work, dedication, and commitment to service have been instrumental in his success story.
The next tribute was from Professor Haasan A. Saliu, President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, NPSA, an Association that Prof. Gambari is a proud member and its pillar of support. It was titled: “The NPSA Celebrates Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari: The Scholar-Diplomat and Ilorin Prince, at 80’’ The tribute touched on virtually everything about the celebrant, including the cultivation yard where the essence of Prof. Gambari was generated. As a Prince, he naturally grew up in the palace with other children, such as General Tunde Idiagbon. There, he struck long-lasting relationships that later played a major role in the phenomenon that he has turned out to be today. Although he attended a public school far away from the palace, he later attended the elite school in Ilorin known as the Ilorin Provincial School, which later became Government Secondary School, Ilorin. He furthered his education in Lagos at King’s College, and later at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The author noted that he also attended the Columbia University in the United States for his PhD, which he obtained in 1974.
The tribute also delved into his service career at ABU and later his appointment as the DG of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), and subsequently, as Minister of External Affairs under General Muhammadu Buhari’s military administration between 1984 and 1985. In the tribute, he corrected some impressions about Prof. Gambari. Two of these are significant for this review. The first was the perception that his era as a minister was unsung in Nigeria’s foreign policy. It is instructive to note that the administration that he served only lasted in power for less than two years, while it was confronted with the Herculean task clearing the economic mess that the Second Republic government had driven the country into. He challenged the notion that the Buhari military administration did not achieve anything in foreign policy.
Inevitably, the administration can be credited with some achievements in foreign policy, if only attention is paid to the issue of the Saharawi Arab Republic, which had long been on the table of the OAU for lack of agreement on it by member states of the organization. Not only was it recognized as an independent state, under Prof. Gambari as External Affairs Minister, the diplomatic support given to it by the then Lagos authorities literally broke the logjam that had negatively affected the level of cohesion in the organization.
Secondly, Prof. Gambari was not always an easy-going person on important issues to him. He can be sharp and uncompromising at times. In the words of the author: “…he can take a hard stance if occasions call for it.’’ For instance, his radical stance during the burial rites of the late Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, where he called for the boycott of the ceremony in protest against the shabby diplomatic treatment accorded President Goodluck Jonathan, could not have been taken by a lily-livered individual. More so, as a holder of a national honor in South Africa. As for those who erroneously believe that he is always pandering to the wishes of the West, his criticisms of the West over the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and their reluctance to reform the UN should make them have a rethink in their characterization of him. Ideologically, Prof. Gambari is a liberal scholar but of the Realist School of Thought in International Relations, as most writers on foreign policy or international relations are, with a considerable display of humanity in him. He comes around as one who always cautions the nation about sacking its traditional allies for the pot of porridge of the present. His position, which is often misinterpreted, is that Nigeria cannot withstand a prolonged period of winter relationship with the west in view of the fundamentals of her political economy. He is not alone in this belief. He shares it with another former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria. One cannot agree less with him as the reality of the country’s existence eloquently shows this truism.
At the level of the UN, the author, like others, recognized his good services to the global organization, which made him a highly valued individual in the body. His tour of duty saw him serving as Under-Secretary, representing two UN Secretaries-General in many troubled spots in the world. It is doubtful if there is any other Nigerian who has had the kind of visibility that he has enjoyed with the UN system since the creation of the organization. One can therefore say that he flew the flag of Nigeria creditably well before the Nigerian factor crept into the scene that made him to exit the scene.
Nevertheless, he seems more popular in the UN System than in Nigeria, his birthplace, because of his long service to the organisation and the concomitant impact that he has made through its platforms. This was why the author believes that, given his profile in the global body, his level of contacts should have been more maximally tapped into for the benefit of the Nigerian State. Nigeria, however, is not like any of the civilized countries where talents are more recognized. He, no doubt, has got awards all over the world for his meritorious services to humanity. Like an Oliver Twist, Prof. Saliu as the president of the NPSA has requested for more support from the celebrant for the NPSA. As he put it: “I have been mandated to appeal to him to make more presence in the Association (that he has assisted in recent times) through advice, empowerment (for members) and (financial) support.’’
Ovei Lakemfa, President of the Society for International Relations Awareness, SIRA, in his own tribute titled: “Ibrahim Gambari: The Intellectual and Diplomat who Saw Tomorrow’’ agreed essentially with the perspective that Prof. Gambari has indeed made a positive impact in the world. Perhaps because of the fact that the record of the celebrant on the global scene is more enduring, he started-off from there. Beginning with the UN and South Africa, he noted the efforts made by Prof. Gambari in lowering the flag of obnoxious Apartheid regime in South Africa. He had the honour of receiving the late Nelson Mandela as the Chair of UN anti-apartheid committee after his release at the UN’s Headquarters in New York in 1991, climaxing the tortuous journey towards his release from prison. In recognition of his role towards a multi-racial society emerging in South Africa, he was bestowed with the highest honour of the country. The author went on to recount Prof. Gambari’s efforts in other troubled spots such as Sudan, Darfur, Myanmar, Zimbabwe and other places where the Prof. had contributed significantly to the restoration of peace. In the process, he became Mr.‘Fix it‘ for the UN. This inevitably led the author to remark that: Interestingly, although Gambari became one of best known diplomats in contemporary times, he was an ‘accidental diplomat’. His profession is academics in which he is also a colossus and, author of a number of books, including on the UN, Africa and Nigeria.
I recall that the experience he has acquired in peace-building possibly made him to be invited to the inauguration of the Committee on Erin-Ile-Offa boundary dispute by the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq, in 2021. Lakemfa considered Prof. Gambari as an accidental diplomat. He was right because that is what he considers himself to be. He began as as academic, teaching International Relations in both America and Nigeria before destiny called on him to be a diplomat. However, in his own tribute, our revered Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari CFR, while acknowledging the honour that he has brought to Ilorin Emirate, corrected the celebrant that he should stop considering himself as an accidental diplomat. Rather, it was the design of Almighty Allah to make that line of vocation possible for him that has brought relevance, glory and enhanced visibility to Ilorin town.
Sending Apartheid to the grave
Lakemfa did not fail to recall the recent role that Prof. Gambari played in the conference organized by the Society that he has the honour of heading on Eradication of Colonialism from Africa. Recall that the issue of Sharawi Arab Republic had been on the front burner of OAU for a long time. And its recognition by Nigeria was the high point of the Buhari Military administration in 1984. Prof Gambari was Nigeria’s Minister of External Affairs when that major step was taken, making him the Chairman of the conference was a more befitting honour to him.
In “Why Princes Become Perfect Diplomats: A Precis on Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at 80 Years’’ by Ambassador Godknows Igali, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary who has served both at Home and Foreign Ministries. In the tribute, he went historical by tracing the history of Ilorin Emirate, an Emirate that the celebrant was born into. It is important to note that although his historical account was quite enriching, there was a mixed up somewhere in terms of placement of personalities and the roles they had played in the evolution of Ilorin Emirate. For instance, Afonja and Alimi were not both from the same angle to the history of Ilorin.
He also dived into the history of diplomacy which began as a vocation for princes and princesses. Situating Prof. Gambari within the royalty bracket, he was not surprised that he has excelled in diplomacy. He identified certain qualities among members of the royal blood that Prof. Gambari is endowed with that enabled him to write his name in gold in the art of diplomatic practice.
These, in his view, are perseverance, deep historical knowledge, patience, among others. Much as one cannot dismiss the perspective that has been shared on his meteoric rise in public service, bordering on what the author called ‘patronizing influences’, he later admitted that without the dint of hard work, it would have been difficult for Prof. Gambari to have attained the heights he has attained. He boldly stated that: “One good attribute which all adduce to Prof. Gambari, despite his elitist background is his humility, modesty, and gift of simple demeanour.’’ He continued: At 80 years of age, he is obviously still shining brightly and a testament to of his strength, resilience and character. A man of great experience, versatility and inspiration, he remains also of unimaginable kindness, compassion, and grace.
Concerning his marks in diplomacy, he, like Lakemfa, recounted the exploits of the Ilorin Prince at the UN that has made him a household name in the organisation. He was valued by two successive Secretaries-General of the global body who were fond of sending him to difficult areas to restore peace. He was in Angola, Zimbabwe, Darfur and other places and he succeeded in bringing about relative peace to these countries.
Ambassador Igali, like others, that have written about Prof. Gambari did not fail to remark that the tree that has grown phenomenally was first planted at home when he was plugged out of the classroom and made Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN by the Babangida regime after serving briefly as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs under the Shagari government in 1983 and subsequently as External Affairs Minister between 1984 and 1985.
While on the three posts, Prof. Gambari had given the initial indication that he would go far in the diplomatic practice. While on the first post, he had the honour to serve as the Chair of Peace keeping Committee and capped his rise in the UN system with the headship of the Political Affairs, a position that gave him a tough time due to the displeasure of some western countries with the reality that a Nigerian was heading it. Of significance was his decision to recreate a UN peace keeping post for Somalia with a budget to carry out its mandate. Due to his worth that was noticed, while serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to the UN, he only returned to Nigeria for a while in 1999 after completing his term at New York before he was invited over to join the UN System.
There, he began his rise until 2012 when he pulled out of Darfur under controversial circumstances. The author, like others such as Prof. Saliu, did not fail to mention the thesis of Concentric Circles that he promoted as Minister. As a kind of strategic approach to foreign policy, it had its supporters and critics but none could, however, dismiss its relevance and observance when Prof. Gambari was manning the Ministry of External Affairs in Nigeria. Everything would appear to be going on well for the foreign policy under him until the military effected a change in the governance of the country with the emergence of General Ibrahim Babangida as the new military President. A new Minister was thus appointed for the Ministry of External Affairs to replace him in 1985.
Five years after, Prof. Gambari was made Nigeria’s s Ambassador to the UN by the new administration. There began glorious days for him. The rise in his public career profile inevitably led both Ambassador Igali and Lakemfa to have concluded that Prof. Gambari is a global citizen born of Nigeria’s extraction.
Professor Kingsley Monghalu, the Head of the Governance Institute in Kigali, approached his own tribute titled: “Ibrahim Gambari: The Iconic Scholar-Diplomat at 80’’ from the angle of the interactions he had with the celebrant at the UN where he too has had a stint. He considered him as a humane person who has a lot of clout in the UN System by virtue of his personal qualities and humane disposition who would have been more celebrated, if he had been from another environment because of his immense achievements as an international bureaucrat but not so in our country. This was why some Nigerians were surprised when he was made the Chief of Staff to President Buhari in 2020. In the estimation of some Nigerians, he should have aspired to be President, not Chief of Staff to any President in Nigeria.
With his extensive experience both nationally and across the borders, he would have been better-off as the President of Nigeria, some Nigerians had reasoned. Notwithstanding, he did his best in that office to the admiration of the president who appointed him to the office. In his speech marking his 80th birthday, the former President extolled the contributions that he made to his first and second outings as Head of government in Nigeria. In his words: On becoming the Foreign Minister, he quickly became the cynosure of all eyes in the world as one of dynamic leaders in the foreign realm. He displayed vigour and a sense of purpose through his very active participation in regional and international diplomacy.
Specifically, on his role as Chief of Staff to him, President Buhari has this to say about him: As Chief of Staff, he fit in eminently following the unfortunate demise of his predecessor, Abba Kyari, helping to enhance the ability of the presidency to achieve jointness and coherence in implementation of policies. His organisational and command structure as we call it in the military, were of tremendous value.
He then wished that other Nigerians would emulate the virtues of honesty, loyalty and integrity with which Prof. Gambari is imbued. With this testament of the man he has served on two different occasions, Prof. Monghalu was indeed correct in his assessment of the celebrant.
Prof. Monghalu was not done yet. He went into the archive to dig out more about his personal encounters with Prof. Gambari. He specifically recognized his qualities as a global icon. In his view, his royal background was a mere coincidence as he was far more qualified than most Nigerians for the elevation he has enjoyed in the global setting. First, he was a foreign policy scholar who had been well prepared for the various global assignments bestowed on him. The second factor he noted for his enviable career was his hard work that made him to take on very difficult assignments, armed with his solid intellectual background. Most notably, as also recognised by President Buhari, was his recognition of the connection between domestic and external environment that made him to come up with the thesis of Concentric Circles that places adequate recognition to the strategic interests of Nigeria.
No doubt, he considered Prof. Gambari as a man whose work has won some accolades for the country through his astute deployment of diplomatic skills in the assignments he was given. Prof. Monghalu recalled an encounter with him at the UN in 1994 when he was serving as a Political Affairs Official with the UN. The chanced meeting with Prof. Gambari left an indelible mark on his mind because the warmness that the then Nigeria’s ambassador had shown to him and his readiness to extend an invitation to see him afterwards, left long lasting impressions on him about the man.
2nd time together
Prof. Monghalu also recalled the Dikko saga when the former Nigeria’s Minister of Transport, Alhaji Umar Dikko, was to be crated to Nigeria with a label that suggested it was a parcel to be shipped to Nigeria apparently without the knowledge of Prof. Gambari that the crate was addressed to. This again corroborated with the assertion made by Prof. Saliu that a lot happens in the corridors of power that serving ministers may not know much about. More so, in foreign relations. It is therefore incorrect to blame everything that went wrong under the Buhari regime on the Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Gambari.
As a man who worked at the UN at the time when Prof. Gambari was Nigeria’s Ambassador, he was privy to some goings-on there. He has cited an example to buttress his points about the workings of the UN. He sensed the considerable obstacle that Prof. Gambari faced at the UN under Babangida’s regime that reversed the democratic journey of the country through the controversial annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election. The subsequent coming to power of General Sani Abacha’s regime consolidated the anti-democratic behaviour of the Nigerian State with the hostile external environment to contend with. Through skillful handling, Prof. Gambari was able to turn the tide and later became a big man at the UN with global recognition.
Olusegun Adeniyi, the Chair of Thisday Editorial Board was not left out of the tributes galore for Prof. Gambari. In the tribute titled: “A Scholar, Diplomat and Prince’’, he took-off from the attribute of a good diplomat which is active listening skill that makes him or her to listen to all sides without betraying his emotions. Prof. Gambari has this quality in abundance. He listens attentively even when no sensible points are being made. That is the hallmark of a good diplomat. In conflict management, especially mediation, the third party must be patient and neutral in approaching the mediation process. He must mind his gesticulations and respond to submissions being made as neutral as possible. A lot will be gained in the process when one is calm and listens to all sides when narrating their stories.
He referenced Prof. Gambari’s famous statement that the peace process can only be homegrown, not imported. This explained why he was always creating structures for peace-building among the communities wherever he was on duty for peace-making. He further cited the case of Rwanda where he had warned against the occurrence of genocide but no one paid attention to his repeated calls. And when it did happen, he was loud about the nonchalant attitude of some actors that brought it about.
The late Boutros-Boutros Ghali was one of them. The others were some notable western countries that should have acted to prevent it but chose not to take any steps. Little wonder, Prof. Gambari and indeed, Nigeria were singled out for mentioning as actors that stood with Rwanda, fetching Prof. Gambari a national honour of the country in 2021. He concluded his tribute by remarking that:In an era where public service often lacks intellectual depth, and academia frequently loses touch with practical realities, (Prof.) Gambari stands as a bridge between these worlds. To the Professor, diplomat, adviser, and perpetual student of life, I say happy 80th birthday.
Adeniyi should be commended for candidly concluding his tribute but I want to observe that the passing of a ruinous verdict on the intellectuals whom I assume he was talking about the University Professors was not charitable. Nigerian Professors are fully aware of their practical realities but are being constrained by several factors, one of which is their general working environment, including the paltry sums they are paid at the end of the month. I will therefore ask my friend and fellow OAU ex-student to beam more searchlight on the miserable lives that Professors live in Nigeria before passing his erroneous judgement on academia next time around.
Professor Abdulrasheed Na-Allah, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja gave his tribute from the angle of his services to the Kwara State University, Malete, where he had served as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor. As the Chancellor of the University, Prof. Gambari had put everything into growing the university that was started in 2009 by Bukola Saraki’s government. Like Prof. Saliu, he also doubted whether we can find a Nigerian among his generation that can match his level of global visibility and accomplishments. In his own words, he said: “It is hard to find another Nigerian with his level of exposure and international leadership experience.”
As a mentee and family friend of Prof. Gambari, Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji, also joined the tribute’s train by penning something down as he had done previously to mark the occasion of his 80th birthday. It was titled: “Ibrahim Gambari at 80: Rendezvous with Greatness.’’ Dr. Ugorji flew in from America in order to participate in the epoch-making activities lined up for the celebration. He was in Ilorin for the book presentation as well as other activities lined for the celebration. He summed up his tribute this way: “As accomplished as Prof. Gambari is, his humility and loyalty to friends, colleagues and mentees, is exemplary.” The mentee recalled his contacts with Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. George Obiozor and the celebrant as the stars of International Relations in Nigeria but was more acquainted with Prof. Gambari as his mentor.
Their point of contact was a rejoinder he had written to an article defending Prof. Gambari before even meeting him in person. That obviously brought them closer as he was later invited by the celebrant. He was not disappointed as the qualities he had noticed in the ambassador from afar were the virtues he found him with when they eventually met in persons. The relationship has grown to the extent of getting an award for Prof. Gambari from of African Writers Endowment’s Association Quintessence Conference in 1998. The extent of their relationship made him to relocate to Nigeria, a development that Prof. Gambari was pleased about.
He, however, got fixed up in a political appointment with the Imo State Government, while hoping something would come from the centre. He recognised the role played by Prof. Gambari’s spouse, Dr. Fatima Gambari, who had to sacrifice her own professional career for her husband, echoing the sentiments that the husband often expresses about his wife. Apart from his parents, the author said no other person has played a role in his life more than Prof. Gambari. In concluding the tribute, he submitted that: Thanks, Prof. Gambari, for all you have been, for all you are, and all you will continue to be. I often say I want to be like you when I grow up. It is clear, on your 80th year, that I still have a lot of growing up to do.
Wale Adebanwi in the tribute titled: “Gambari at 80: A Modest Proposal”, began his submission by recalling how Prof.Gambari had shown the humanity in him by coming down to Nigeria’s mission area in New York to facilitate appointments with two African leaders for Adebanwi’s sake. He, like a few others, who have related well with him more closely as mentees has discovered that he is a man of all ages. He relates seamlessly well with his contemporaries, those who are older in age and those who are younger alike. He is like that. His humbleness is legendary as Adebanwi has noted. As a testament to this, he was always inviting him to occasions as an ambassador which Adebanwi considered were well above his carriage and status. He was therefore finding excuses to avoid some of them. But typical of Prof. Gambari, he showed understanding each time the requirements of his fellowships would not make Adebanwi to honour his invitations.
The status of Prof. Gmbari as a global citizen notwithstanding, he is a man who is ready to inconvenient himself in order to please others. On his modest proposal that was of concern to him in writing the tribute in the first instance, Adebanwi was a bit more specific in terms of what he thinks needed to be done on Nigeria’s international relations. He advised the current President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to think of having an Advisory Committee on Foreign Policy to be made up of the celebrant, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi to stem the tide of ineffectiveness in the conduct of the country’s external relations. This proposal sits well with the broad suggestion made by Prof. Saliu in his own tribute to the same man. In Adebanwi’s words: “These three men can suggest the most transformative steps that can be taken to transform Nigeria’s international influence” in the era of declining productivity in the country’s foreign policy.
Ambassador Umar Sarki, in his own tribute, marking the 80 years of Prof. Gambari titled: “The Quintessential Citizen: A Tribute to Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari’’ looked at the man comprehensively from the angle of his impact. He shared his thoughts on how some people attained greatness. In his view, greatness is not something one can purchase in the super market. It is consciously grown and nurtured to be impactful onto others. Only few individuals have been able to achieve this. Prof. Gambari is one of such lucky individuals. He has been able to make impacts in all his endeavours because he has been working hard and exhibiting all the attributes that are necessary to make him a successful diplomat, administrator, intellectual, peace- maker, mentor and many more because he is a man who puts mental exertion into whatever he does. He then went on to talk about the schools he attended and the various tasks he has performed at home and abroad that qualified him for all the accolades he has been given which, in his view, are deserving. He submitted that: His sense of and high conception of loyalty to his principal set him apart from the motley collection of underlings and self-serving officials who passed through the corridors of power without distinction or leaving any mark of their presence, and whose absence will never be missed.
Not surprisingly, he further argued: Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari transcended the threshold of personal interest and attained the lofty heights of impersonal commitment to the cause of advancing the collective interest and outlook as called for by his dignity and stature.
President Bola Tinubu, a long time friend of Prof. Gambari also has something to say about Prof. Gambari. In his view, he is a consequential personality to have come out of Nigeria. He recognised his impacts in Nigeria and submitted that: In the evolution of modern Nigeria, Prof. Gambari is, no doubt, one of a few living non-career public servants whose footprints have impacted significantly on the triple helix of diplomacy, democracy, and national development. We recall with pride how he flew Nigeria’s flag in several capacities.
President Tinubu reminded Prof. Gambari that: “My dear Prof., as you celebrate this milestone today, I hope you take pride in knowing that your legacy continues to shape our nation’s foreign policy and inspire future leaders.’’
The above tributes were those that I could lay my hands on in preparing for this review. There may have been others that I could not access. I believe that with those that I have reviewed, including tributes written by three Presidents of Nigeria and Ghana, a better level of insight would have been gained on Prof. Gambari. The only responsibility left for me to discharge in this paper is to draw out the lessons that the reader can learn from the review carried out.
On the world stage
Lessons from Prof. Gambari’s Life
From the review of tributes written to Prof. Gambari when he attained 80 years of age, some lessons can be drawn for the reader. These tributes were written by many individuals who have come in contact with Prof. Gambari in the course of his earthly living and the various impacts he has made in the lives of people. These following lessons are only based on the review that I have carried out in this piece.
The first of such lessons is the fact of his humbleness. As attested to by the authors, Prof. Gambari is a humble person who relates well with both the mighty and the low across continents. He is unassuming who is ready to give his helping hands where necessary irrespective of ethnic, religious and racial differences. He easily calls people his friends and renders his assistance to them whenever it is possible. People of all regions have attested to this aspect of his life. From what I have heard, he has touched more lives than he too can possibly remember.
His first son, Bolaji Gambari, confirmed this when he spoke at the grand finale of the activities marking his 80th birthday in Abuja when he said that many doors of favours have opened for him and others by mere mentioning the name of his father. Perhaps when he was doing all this, he never knew that his humbleness would ever bring in such a bumper harvest of goodwill to him. The lesson that is inevitable to learn from this is that it pays not to look down on anyone in this world. A young man of today who needs assistance may be the same person one may meet somewhere in the future or may be someone one may need for a future favour.
One can also observe in the review that it is important to master one’s field of specialization so that when challenges come in the course of one’s ascendancy, there will no trouble. Prof. Gambari is an eminent expert on International Relations who masters the intricacies of the field both theoretically and in praxis. No doubt, there were trying moments for him but his theories of international Relations were quite handy for him in navigating his ways. One recalls the Abacha era when the world appeared to be against the country he was representing at the UN. Only luck and his mastery of the art of diplomacy that made him not to be more inconvenient by the administration.
His tendency not to be controversial has made him successful at his job. He is very calm and a good listener. He made sure he was not drawn into conflict situations as an interested party in all the crisis spots he was sent to bring under control. Although he is not a trained diplomat in the typical sense, he has risen phenomenally in the art of diplomacy that some people have taken it for granted that he is career officer. He is not but he has impacted on the diplomatic stuff to the extent of joining the league of non-career diplomats who have excelled in their diplomatic assignments. His quietness and warmness which are the hallmarks of diplomacy have made it possible for him to wade into many difficult areas without getting his fingers burnt. His calm and gentle mien was responsible for the relative ease with which he had handled the delicate issues in Sudan, Darfur, Myanmar and other places to which he was dispatched to bring about law and order.
The extensive experience he has acquired in negotiations made him the initial choice in handling the Niger Delta issue under the Jonathan presidency before complications set in that could not make him work on it. One would want to say that the loss of Nigeria was the gain of other countries where his name is written in gold because of the commendable job that he has carried out in these countries on peace missions.
His domestic stability is another factor to note in his emergence as a global citizen. His wife, Dr. Fatima Gambari, who is also a scholar in her own right but who, in order to give him the necessary support had to sacrifice her own profession to be following her husband up and down to give him the peace of mind in discharging the diverse responsibilities he had to perform. Only a few women would be ready to do that for their husbands. Herein lies the strength and energy behind the success of Prof. Gambari. It is important for our young men to settle down with the women who will be ready to make the necessary sacrifices for their spouses to reach the zenith of their careers. I have, on occasions, heard him eulogizing his wife for being supportive of him throughout the period of his various assignments.
Loyalty is an essential ingredient for success in life more so, in public office. Prof. Gambari is loyal to all his bosses. President Muhammadu Buhari attested to this in his tribute on the occasion of his birthday. Without the factor of loyalty, the hope of Prof. Gambari in returning to government in 2020 would have been dashed in view of other Nigerians who wanted the position of Chief of Staff to President Buhari. No one knew that the former occupant of the office would die in office. And when it happened, there was a fierce competition for his replacement. Loyalty above other factors, in my view, delivered the job to him. He was not only loyal to President Buhari, he has extended it to all his former bosses in Nigeria and at the UN.
Mention has also been made of his integrity which is quite crucial. For a man to have lasted in the public space for more than fifty years without any blemish, it shows that he has dignity and integrity. He has served about eight different governments in Nigeria and four Secretaries-General spanning some decades and yet no story is being told about him over one financial or criminal record or the other. From this record, one can say that whoever wants to serve in government with a tendency to corrupt himself may not last as much as Prof. Gambari has lasted.
In the public space, there will always be corruptible tendencies. All that is required is for one is to stay above board. One is not saying there may not have been attempts to smear his name but he has kept his records and being vigilant at all times. It pays in the long run as the reputation that Prof. Gambari has built for himself over the years which is now the envy of others is usually the reward for being upright and avoid negativity.
All is not well with the contemporary Nigeria’s foreign policy. Two of the authors have lamented on that. They have even gone ahead to recommend for the establishment of an advisory committee on the foreign policy. This is a desideratum given the circumstances of the country’s foreign policy. There will be resistant to it but if the president is determined, it is doable; Nigeria’s foreign policy is facing what some have characterised as a kind of somersault from its relative effectiveness of the past. It will be to the advantage of the country to have the committee in place. Perhaps, it is only in Nigeria that we allow our best to waste due to jealousy that costs the nation a lot in terms of its past international investments and continental leadership that providence has placed on the shoulders of the nation.
The life of Prof. Gambari has shown that hard work pays. It should not be taken that all was smooth for him. There were challenging moments and hazards of making it to the top. He is a Prince, but his determination to succeed and working hard to attain his set goals were critical factors to note in his various attainments. I am sure that if he is asked about how he has made it, he will have plenty of scary stories to tell. Flying through volatile territories must have produced unpalatable experiences to recount but he endured all to make the kind of impact being celebrated about him today. The take-home from this is that being born into royalty is one thing, being prepared to achieve one’s goal is another, which is critical in Prof. Gambari’s success story.
As one of the authors of the tributes has remarked, retiring from the public service comes with its own challenges connected with accessibility. I recall a prominent figure in Ilorin, and indeed a traditional title-holder who was full of lamentations for his inability to again access Prof. Gambari for favours due to his deep external engagements. Now, Baba Gambari is likely to be staying more in Nigeria and that means that requests will soon be flooding his house for one assistance or the other, especially from his Ilorin base and other constituencies. More diplomatic skills and tolerance will be required in handling the requests as those to be concerned may look at Oga Gambari’s attainments in plotting their graphs of expectations from him.
A flash of tough time in a career
Concluding Remarks
In concluding this review, it is necessary to note that Prof. Gambari is indeed a global citizen, judging by the volume of work he has done across the globe. In Nigeria, he has also been fortunate to be in the corridors of power, making his modest impact as permitted by the kind of governance environment prevailing in the country. Every sector he has found himself in the last fifty years, it has been impact and more impacts all through. The authors who have written about him know what they have said.
Their views represent a testament to his public life. As this teacher, administrator, diplomat, peace maker and a proud Ilorin man, settles for the challenges of many years to come as an elder statesman who has been fortunate to see both the theoretical and practical aspects of politics within and outside Nigeria, my prayer is that he lives for many more years in good health and comfort to render more quality services to people who may want to benefit more from his kindness and support in navigating through their lives. My dear Prof., enjoy your peaceful retirement! The world recognizes your contributions and value to humanity.
Bibliography
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Aje, F. (2024) Statement made during the birthday celebration nd
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The author is of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
