Professor Ibrahim Gambari, newly-appointed chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari resumed work yesterday at the presidential villa and pledged his allegiance the president.
Gambari, 75, a retired diplomat, external (foreign) affairs minister between 1984 and 1985 and Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives at the United Nations (UN) between 1990 and 1999, replaces the Mr. Abba Kyari who died of coronavirus disease complications at a private hospital in Lagos on April 17.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Gambari who was appointed chief of staff on Tuesday thanked the president “for giving me this opportunity to serve him and of the country.”
Asked what Nigerians will be expecting from him as the chief of staff, with his wealth of knowledge, Gambari said: “I have not started, so I will find out and maybe… I don’t report directly to the nation, I report directly to the President.”
On what the president should expect from him, he simply said: “I think he needs my loyalty, competence and support.”
On his guiding principle as he resumed work, the new chief of staff said “to serve the president to the best of my ability.”
