Indication has emerged that 75-year-old former Minister for External Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, may be announced as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, at today’s virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.
The official announcement was confirmed by the Presidency.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed that an announcement will be made, but did not disclose who has been appointed as Chief of Staff.
“Announcement during FEC today”, the Presidential Spokesman simply said in response to a text message on the appointment of the new Chief of Staff.
President Buhari will preside over a virtual FEC meeting today, Wednesday; the first since the lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Lagos and Ogun States, over the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, May 12, there were speculations that Professor Ibrahim Gambari would succeed the late Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff to President Buhari.
Already, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new Chief of Staff.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, described the appointment as a great honour to the entire people of Ilorin Emirate, and Kwarans at large.
Prof. Gambari was the Minister for External Affairs, between 1984 and 1985.
He was the first United Nation’s Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa.