Gambari’s political networking, experience, crucial to Nigeria’s image, says Onwueme
The United State-based Professor Emeritus and Endowed Chair University Professor of Global Letters, Tess O. Onwueme has urged Nigerians to leverage on the wealth of experience and international network of the newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari to improve on the image of the country .
She said in a statement that it is essential for Nigerians to receive Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, with gratitude.
The 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature nominee, who recently retired from the University of Wisconsin said Gambari is “an exceptionally decent, diligent intellectual respected worldwide, stressing that Nigerians should pray for him rather than heap criticisms at him.
According to her, Gambari’s immense “social capital” and unparalleled political networking around the world as an esteemed and trusted diplomat, will be of tremendous value to Nigeria at this critical point in time when oil revenue is dwindling and the country is struggling with an infamous image of terrorism and unflattering character of social crimes at home.
‘A global icon that he is on the world diplomatic stage, even billion dollars in these precipitous moments of Nigeria’s collective struggle for survival and nationhood falls short of buying that crucial kind of priceless, redeeming power of influence that Gambari’s sterling character and image command and resonate around the world”, she stressed.
Describing President Buhari’s CoS as a “consummate, altruistic, selfless individual and an iconic world figure who can stand and talk to leading world figures on behalf of Nigeria,” Onwueme maintained that Gambari’s presence in the present government will exceptionally enhance and significantly impact Nigeria’s standing at home and abroad; and as such, he should be appreciated and encouraged for accepting to return to serve his motherland again even after his official retirement from the public sphere.
“We should breathe a sigh of relief that Nigeria has now a trusted ‘adult in the room’ embodied by Prof. Gambari among those mounted in the saddle of Nigerian affairs.Prof. Onwueme added that as a “knowledgeable diplomat who can speak with authority (unlike many who hunger for that position of CoS) the globally respected Gambari does not need any introduction to the world.
And he will, in his tested manner of responsibility with characteristic humility, discharge his duties at home and abroad with unflinching honesty and devotion to the Nigerian cause.
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““Nigeria needs that towering figure of Gambari on the world stage now more than ever before, when persistent daunting social challenges appear to be rocking the foundations of our nation”, Onwuwme, the multiple award-winning author remarked.
Adding: “Gambari can knock at the door of any world leader and it will be opened to him because of the high mantle of respect that he has earned and wields with admirable humility in the international community today.
“We should be grateful that he has accepted to help shoulder all that burden that Nigeria is carrying and sagging along, especially now”, she said.
On the criticism about Gambari’s age, Professor Onwueme stressed that one cannot dismiss or even monitize the priceless wealth of experience and knowledge that such an exceptionally informed and diligent expert to the management team of the country definitely brings to table.
Speaking on some questions about his past position regarding contentious issues or actions of certain president that Gambari served while he was Nigeria’s representative to the United Nations, Onwueme held that people should always locate actions within the context they are acted.
“He may not be perfect. But if there is a vote to be cast for anyone close or being tagged a “saint” in politics (and in Nigerian politics for that matter) I will cast my vote for Prof. Gambari, any time, any day”, she declared.
