An official of the Palace of the Emir of Ilorin has pleaded that its statement on the purported appointment of an Ilorin Prince, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari be discountenanced for now.
The Palace official, seeking anonymity, was responding to clarifications on a congratulatory message issued by the palace on Prof. Ibrahim’s reported appointment as Chief of Staff to President Buhari.
“What we acted on is a speculated statement, the appointment of Prof. Gambari has not been announced in a statement signed either by Femi Adesina or Garba Shehu, who are the two spokespersons of the President.” The official told The Punch
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, had in a statement on Tuesday signed by his media aide, Abdulazeez Arowona expressed appreciation to the President for appointing Gambari as his new chief of staff.
The statement seemed to have lent credence to earlier online media reports that Prof. Ibrahim Gambari had been appointed to replace the late chief of staff, Abba Kyari.
An online news medium, TheCable, wrote, “Gambari to be unveiled as new chief of staff on Wednesday (today)”
TheCable reported, “Although his (Gambari’s) appointment has not been officially announced, TheCable confirmed from Presidency sources that he would replace Abba Kyari, who died from COVID-19 complications last month,” the medium reported.
The statement from the Ilorin Emirate read, “Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as his new chief of staff.
“He noted that the choice of the former diplomat would be justified by his outstanding contributions, administrative experience, scholarship and excellence, which he would inject into the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government towards ensuring good governance, democratic dividends as well as shared prosperity in the nation.”
The Presidency made no official announcement to confirm or deny the appointment.
As at press time, both presidential spokespersons, Mr Femi Adesina and Mr Garba Shehu, made no confirmation of the reported appointment.
Former CoS, Mr Abba Kyari, had died of complications associated with COVID-19 on April 17.
