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  • One-party state not possible in Nigeria, says Gambari

    One-party state not possible in Nigeria, says Gambari

    Former Chief of Staff to late President Muhammadu Buhari and founder Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), Professor Ibrahim Gambari had ruled out the possibility of Nigeria turning into a one-party state.

    He spoke in Abuja during a media interactive session on the activities of his 11-year-old centre for policy research, dialogue, advocacy, and training in key areas of diplomacy, democracy and development.

    Reviewing political development in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections and alleged fears by the opposition parties of the country turning to a one-party state, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs said he is not nursing the fears of the opposition, arguing that all indices are still in favour of the country’s multi party system.

    According to him: “I’m not at all worried about this country becoming a one-party state. You know what? You can quote me. It will not happen if history is any guide. You know, we don’t even know our own history.”

    Reminiscing on the political evolution of the country,  Gambari noted the ruling party was not the first dominant party in Nigeria 

    “This administration is not the first to try to have a dominant party in Nigeria. Right from the beginning, the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC)  was a dominant party in the First Republic. They were not the ones who caused the crisis in the main opposition, but they didn’t discourage it. In fact, they took sides. Where has that led us? It didn’t lead us to peace or development; it led to chaos.

    “The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was next. They became so confident they felt that they would be there forever. What happened to that? In the end, it didn’t work. Third one, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not long ago, they were boasting that they would rule for 60 years. Where are they today? So any effort to make this country one party will not work.”

    Advancing reasons further for the non-viability of the concept, the former United Nations Under-Secretary General argued that most political elites in the country are too ambitious for the ambition to be contained within one political party. 

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    He, however, said that the political class has failed to learn from history and the negative consequences of previous attempts, insisting that the country would “continue to repeat history’s mistakes.”

    Proffering solutions on how to avoid past experiences,  the season diplomat stressed the need for building and promoting a formidable political party system

    “We must pay attention to how political parties are organized in this country because if we have strong political parties, nobody will even try to make a one-party state. It will not be possible. But because we have no organized political parties, our political parties have become just vehicles to gain political power. That’s all. Because our constitution does not allow for independent candidates, you have to belong, so it’s a party of convenience.

    “Political parties are flags of convenience. You know, when you look at ships, you can have an American ship flying a Panama flag. So political parties are just carrying flags of convenience to gain power, not organized based on ideology or perspectives that make one distinct from the other. 

    “In the First Republic, if you crossed from NPC to NCNC or Action Group, it was a big deal. There were clear differences. But today, because there is no real distinction, you can move—as I jokingly say—you can be APC in the morning, PDP in the afternoon, and APC again the next day, no questions asked, because there are no consequences.

    “In some other systems, if you move after being elected under one platform, your seat is declared vacant, and you have to contest again because otherwise you are living under false pretenses. We elected you under one pretense, and now you have decided to dump it.”

    Stressing  for effective citizen participation in governance, Gambari maintained: “History is not on the side of a one-party state in Nigeria or anywhere else. But it will not happen by itself. Multiparty democracy requires commitment and organization, and we all have roles to play.”

  • Speak truth to power, Gambari tells academics

    Speak truth to power, Gambari tells academics

    Former Nigerian Permanent Representative to United Nations (UN) Prof. Ibrahim Gambari has urged Nigerian academics to rise beyond the confines of the classroom and play a more assertive role in shaping governance, policy formulation and national stability.

    He cautioned that their silence or disengagement could worsen democratic and institutional decline.

    The former Chief of Staff to late President Muhammadu Buhari said this in Ilorin, Kwara State, while delivering a lecture titled: “Roles and responsibilities of academia in good governance” at the annual meeting of the Association of Ilorin Emirate Professors.

    Drawing from his experience as an academic and diplomat, Gambari said governance outcomes are closely tied to how effectively knowledge institutions engage power.

    He noted that academia and government exist in a “mutually reinforcing ecosystem”.

    He said: “I have seen up-close where government works and where it fails. In both instances, academia had a role to play in the final outcome,” stressing that scholars must see themselves as custodians of truth, fairness and societal conscience.

    Prof. Gambari urged scholars to caution the political leaders that power is easily lost when it is not shared, warning governments at all levels against taking communities for granted.

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    He cited Kwara’s political history as evidence, recalling how the ruling establishment in the old Ilorin Province lost control in 1957 to the Ilorin Talaka Parapọ̀ through democratic elections, the defeat of Governor Adamu Atta in 1983, and the 2019 “O to gẹ” Movement that swept the opposition APC to victory.

    Gambari also warned that Nigeria’s youthful population, growing social pressures and governance deficits require a new approach from universities and research institutions, particularly in evidence-based policymaking, civic engagement and capacity building.

     He identified key areas where academia must intervene, including policy testing, legislative research, public sector training, institutional reforms, anti-corruption frameworks, digital governance, crisis management and climate resilience.

    According to him, old methods of engagement are no longer effective in a society driven by technology, bold youth activism and rapid political change, insisting that academics must maintain independence while “speaking truth to power”.

    He further outlined core governance values such as ethics, transparency, accountability, rule of law, participation, equity, efficiency and sustainability, arguing that governance becomes legitimate only when these principles are visible and measurable to citizens.

    Placing Nigeria’s governance struggle within a broader international framework, Gambari said today’s world is marked by geopolitical instability, technological disruption, climate change and resurging nationalism, all of which place governments under pressure to make difficult choices with scarce resources.

    He noted that globally, successful democracies rely heavily on academic institutions for policy clarity, data-driven decisions and ethical guidance, urging Nigerian scholars to adopt similar roles to prevent social breakdown and distrust in public institutions.

    Gambari also called for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration across sciences, humanities, social sciences and technology, arguing that modern governance challenges are too complex for single-discipline solutions.

    He urged Nigerian academics to leave their “ivory towers” and engage the public through constructive dialogue, while remaining vigilant against political compromise and loss of intellectual integrity.

    “When this ecosystem between academia and governance is in balance, we see policy effectiveness, democratic accountability and social development. When it is not, the result is chaos, distrust and societal breakdown,” he warned.

  • Gambari, Sokoto, Oladunni, others honoured with Institute of Security, Nigeria fellowships

    Gambari, Sokoto, Oladunni, others honoured with Institute of Security, Nigeria fellowships

    The Chief of Staff to late former president Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari; Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliu Sokoto; the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola;, the Vice Chancellor Maranatha University, Prof. Rufus Taiwo Akinyele, Lt. Gen. L. Adeosun (rtrd) were among distinguished Nigerians honoured with the Distinguished Fellowship Award of the Institute of Security, Nigeria.

    The occasion, which held Saturday at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, University of Lagos, had former Chief of Army staff, Brigadier Tukur Yusuf Buratai as keynote speaker. It also had wife of Olowu of Owu, Olori Ameenah Matemilola, honoured with the Senior Fellowship of the Institute’s award, while the Special Adviser on Foreign Relations and Head of Protocol of Pan African American Chamber of Commerce (PAACC), Olatutu Oladunni received the fellowship award alongside several others.

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    With the theme: “Expanding Frontiers of Innovations in Security Enhancement and Nation Building in Nigeria, the 18th Annual International Security Conference centered on the current security challenges in the country, with General Buratai’s keynote address focusing on overcoming the challenges, with focus on the current security architecture, pathway – a paradigm shift, innovation and reform as well as collaborative and stakeholders’ approach.

    President of the institute, Prof James Olowokudejo in his welcome address, noted that “the need for the conference had never been more pressing, stating that Nigeria is facing numerous security challenges that threaten the stability and progress of our nation.”

    Delivering his goodwill message, Prof Gambari expressed his gratitude at the Lifetime Achievement Award and Distinguished Fellowship conferred on him by the institute. On the security challenges, Gambari noted that “The recurrent threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and cultism have linkages with the issues of climate change, inequality and multidimensional poverty,” while stressing that “addressing the security challenges Nigeria is facing requires an all-out government and all-society approaches.”

  • Gambari: Every government has cabal, Buhari’s administration had one

    Gambari: Every government has cabal, Buhari’s administration had one

    • Reveals how influential insiders sidetracked him to pass memos to late president

    Former Chief of Staff to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has said that his late principal had a “cabal” on whom he relied on.

    He also revealed how members of the president’s inner circle often bypassed him to secretly send memos to the president.

    The diplomat, however, noted that the practice was not peculiar to the Buhari presidency.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources on Friday, Gambari said although Buhari had instructed that all memos be routed through him, some appointees exploited the president’s “weak point” to get their messages across informally.

    “They knew his weak moment, they knew when to smuggle (memos) because they knew him as they interacted with him informally,” Gambari said.

    Gambari, who served as Buhari’s Chief of Staff from May 2020 to May 2023 after the death of his predecessor, Abba Kyari, added: “When I came as Chief of Staff to the President, he made a statement publicly. He said all memos must go through the Chief of Staff before coming to him.

    “Even the Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo), to his credit, always passed his memos through me and several ministers, but our people still got their memos to him from behind because they knew his weak point and who to use, and he never stopped them.

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    “But the advantage I had was that the memos came back to me.”

    Addressing long-standing reports of a powerful cabal operating in Buhari’s presidency, he said: “They say there was a cabal. There was. Every government has a cabal. They may call them a kitchen cabinet; they may call them a think tank.

    “(Former President Olusegun) Obasanjo had a group of people; the Aboyades of this world and other— a small group of people.

    “It’s the nature of the office of the president that they must have some people in and out of government whom they can let their guard down to and talk to freely.

    “Some have more powers than others, but I’m bold to say that every government has a cabal of some kind or another; whatever name it is called. So, there was.

    “I was a minister 1984-1985, but I wasn’t privy to why he was removed by his colleagues. They put him there.

    “But one of the reasons I’m told was the military people were resenting the fact that Head of State Buhari was now getting a lot of advice and second-guessing the decision of his military colleagues – the Supreme Military Council.”

    Stakeholders have always raised concerns about cabals in presidencies, especially on the undue influence of unelected individuals on governance and decision-making. These small, influential cliques that operate behind the scenes typically in a secretive or non-transparent manner often shape key decisions, appointments and policy directions — sometimes more so than official government structures or even the elected president.

    In 2018, Aisha, Buhari’s wife, raised the alarm about the authority of a few people who were allegedly calling the shots in her husband’s administration at the expense of the electorate.

    Buhari, however, dismissed her concerns.

    Earlier this year, Solomon Dalung, a former minister, said the cabal surrounding President Bola Tinubu is a lot more dangerous, sophisticated and ambitious than the “clique that cocooned” Buhari.

    Dalung was Buhari’s youth and sports minister from 2015 to 2019.

    Gambari, who previously served as foreign affairs minister under Buhari’s military regime in the 1980s, also reflected on the president’s decision-making style.

    He said Buhari was deeply loyal to his appointees and reluctant to fire anyone, even in the face of mounting pressure.

  • Gambari: I wanted to be a teacher but became diplomat

    Gambari: I wanted to be a teacher but became diplomat

    A former Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations (UN), Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, yesterday said he never wanted to be a diplomat but a teacher.

    Even after becoming one of Nigeria’s most celebrated diplomats, Gambari said he prefers to be called a teacher by training and diplomat by accident.

    This, he said, reflected his childhood and educational background.

    The former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the launch of a book titled: Readings in Diplomacy, Democracy, Peace, and Development.

    The event, which was organised in his honour by the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria (COSFAN), coincided with his 80th birthday anniversary.

    Gambari said: “’They plan, I plan, but God is the best planner,’ says the Holy Qur’an. Up till now, I still tell people to refer to me as teacher by training and diplomat by accident because I did not want to be a diplomat. But look at what the Almighty Allah has done to compel me from a person who went to a primary school in Bode Saadu and Malete in the now Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State to become one-time President of United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

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    “I served my country as the longest-serving ambassador at the United Nations (UN). That was not also a happy period because I was constant in Nigeria’s standing in the world when we had so many issues at home. I had five Presidents during my period as ambassador: Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar and, briefly, under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “Now, if somebody who started in a village primary school in Bode Saadu and another senior village primary school in Malete, then to Ilorin Provincial Secondary School, now Government Secondary School (GSS), Ilorin; then really, the sky is the limit for everyone, with God’s guidance and protection.

    “How could I have imagined that the primary school I attended in Malete could then become a location of the first Kwara State-owned university, and I was made the first pioneer Chancellor of the university?

    “I thank God. We’re all in the hands of the Almighty God. His will shall be done. We only need to do our best and leave the rest in the hands of the Almighty.

    “Charity begins at home. That’s why I have not been far from home and never been far from my own people. I look forward to spend the rest of my life in the service of, first, my people, the state, the nation, Africa and the rest of the world.

    “That’s the essence of the concentric cycle of the foreign policy which I have always advocated. The centre must be the state; the next, our neighbour, our region (ECOWAS), Africa and the rest of the world. Now, foreign policy shifts from administration to administration, but in essence, it must be pursued in those frameworks and context.

    “Foreign policy is the definition of the interests of your country and the projection of those interests so that in the process, you will say what you want as a nation in the world and how you conduct yourself in such a way to attain them in the interest of your country.”

    Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, said the state was proud that the mention of Prof. Gambari always commanded respect and honour across all spectrums “owing to his contributions to scholarship, international diplomacy and world peace, as well as national unity and development at various times”.

    The governor enjoined fellow Nigerians, especially, to read the book, saying: “Our world evolves and grapples with emerging challenges of the new media and unfettered freedom, the rise of non-state actors with differing perspectives on the concept of diplomacy, democracy, peace and development, and the shifting nature of the international system and power dynamics.

    “While many of these issues may defy textbook prescriptions, I believe firmly that scholarly research and insights on such topics are always useful in our search for practical and sustainable solutions.”

    The book reviewer and a former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2018-2019), Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, noted that insecurity in Nigeria and especially in the North, was caused by poverty, ignorance, mining activities and weak traditional laws.

    He urged the government to improve efforts at addressing the causes of insecurity to restore peace and development in the country.

    The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Abiola Adimula, described the occasion as a celebration of excellence, service and leadership.

    She lauded Prof. Gambari as a “distinguished academic, resourceful professional, astute technocrat, and world diplomat” whose contributions to international diplomacy, democratic development and global peace remain indelible.

  • Gambari: UN must prevent another genocide

    Gambari: UN must prevent another genocide

    A former United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Head of the Department of Political Affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has called for reforms and democratisation of the Security Council.

    Gambari spoke at a public lecture to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda at the Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State.

    The event was organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nigeria, the Rwandan High Commission in Nigeria and the university.

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    Delivering his keynote lecture, Gambari noted that the reforms would prevent a genocide similar to that against the Tutsi, adding that it should include the use or misuse of veto power as well as the expansion of the Security Council’s membership in the permanent and non-permanent categories.

    A statement by UNIC’s National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun, said Gambari urged the UN to ensure that membership of its Security Council reflected today’s economic demographic and political realities, adding that Africa should be fully represented and taken into consideration.”

  • Gambari calls for UN Security Council’s reform to prevent another genocide

    Gambari calls for UN Security Council’s reform to prevent another genocide

    Former United Nations’ Under-Secretary-General and Head of the Department of Political Affairs, UN Headquarters in New York, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, at the weekend, added his voice to the call for reforms and democratization of the Security Council.

    Gambari made the call at a public lecture to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda held at Covenant University, Ota Ogun state.

    The event was organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nigeria, the Rwandan High Commission in Nigeria, and Covenant University.

    Delivering his keynote lecture, Gambari noted that the reforms would prevent a genocide similar to that against the Tutsi, adding that it should include the use or misuse of veto power as well as the expansion of the Security Council’s membership in both permanent and non-permanent categories.

    A statement by UNIC’s National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun, said Gambari urged the UN to ensure that membership of its Security Council reflected today’s economic demographic and political realities, adding that Africa should be fully represented and taken into consideration.

    “The genocide in Rwanda had the additional and perhaps unintended consequence of reawakening governments in Africa to an appreciation of their own Responsibility to Protect civilian populations beyond their territorial borders.

    “Rwanda taught Africans not to rely purely on the goodwill of the larger international community to police and resolve conflicts on their continent. The need for Pax Africana, for Africa to develop its own resources and mechanisms to initiate effective and robust engagements to resolve the problems of the continent, was becoming increasingly apparent,” said Gambari.

    In his speech to commemorate the Rwanda genocide, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, appealed to humans across the world to shun hatred, and discrimination and stand as one.

    Guterres’ speech which was read by Soremekun, said: “On this solemn day of remembrance, let’s pledge to stand as one against all forms of hatred and discrimination. Let’s ensure that the acts that began on April 7 1994, are never forgotten- and never repeated. Anywhere.

    “We will never forget the victims of this genocide. Nor will we ever forget the bravery and resilience of those who survived, whose courage and willingness to forgive remain a burst of light and hope amidst this dark chapter in human history.”

    Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo, in his remarks, said: “The path to lasting peace demands constant vigilance. As we renew, we restate our unbreakable pledge to fight intolerance, discrimination, ethnic hatred, hate speech, genocide revisionism, and denial in all their forms.”

    “On this occasion of Kwibuka 30, let’s together ensure that the memory of the victims becomes a powerful force for good, inspiring future generations to choose peace over hate, unity over division, and hope over despair.”

    According to him, this could be achieved in different ways including putting course lessons about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in schools to educate the young and the next generation on the need to fight hate ideologies and stand against any form of discrimination and divisionism.

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    He charged everyone to work together to build a world where such atrocities never happen again.

    “Let us renew our commitment to the values of tolerance, compassion, and human dignity in our transformative journey, continuously building a better future for all,” he added.

    The Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Prof Abiodun Adebayo, acknowledged the pivotal role the UN had played in maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development in all conflicts leading to the devastating loss of civilian life, massive displacement, capital flights, destruction of infrastructure and economic institutions, violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws.

    “Today’s reflection is critical because those who do not remember the past or mind history are predestined to repeat history. We remember, therefore, the heinous crime of inhumane treatment meted out not only to the Tutsi but the entire humanity that took place in Rwanda in 1994,” he said.

    The Chancellor of the university, Bishop David Oyedepo, charged African leaders to be sensitive to injustice to ensure peace and stability in the region. He spoke, “It’s time to wake up and take responsibility.”

     From left: The Chancellor of Covenant University, Bishop Dr, David Oyedepo; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo; Rwandan High Commissioner, Amb. Christophe Bazivamo; Former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; UNIC National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun and Honorary Consul of Rwanda in Lagos, Dr Ernest Ebi at the Tutsi Genocide commemorative public lecture held weekend.

  • Residents groan as water scarcity hits Ilorin

    Residents groan as water scarcity hits Ilorin

    Residents of Ilorin and its environs are apparently groaning following perennial water scarcity which has resurfaced in the city.

    The residents of Ilorin town would have to walk a distance to fetch water for drinking and for other domestic use.

    Many residents are sourcing water from motorized borehole drilled by the privileged individuals in their areas.

    Some residents at Emir’s road, Balogun Fulani, Taiwo road, Okelele, Gambari and Baboko among others said that the pitiable situation had become a recurring decimal in the Kwara capital.

    They asserted that the state government was doing little to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

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    “No sooner that dry season sets in; we begin to experience water scarcity in earnest.

    “It has become a perennial experience that government will need to urgently address with short and long term measures”, Ronke Asekunlowo said.

    Dr Oba La’aro, a staff of the University of Ilorin, decried situation where water supply in the capital was receding into a village size supply.

    According to him, substantial number of the residents would have to troop out in search of water every morning and evening.

    Mr Abdulrazaq Akorede, the state Commissioner for Water Resource while reacting, said the problem of water shortage in Ilorin would soon be resolved once the ongoing water reticulation project is completed.

    He expressed optimism that with the level of works done so far, saying that the project would be completed in the next four to five months.

    The Commissioner, however, lamented that some facilities of the water project were being destroyed by some vandals, which he said was affecting the progress of the project.

    He explained that both the state and the Federal Governments had carried out interventions on some water projects in the state.

    According to him, there was an ongoing expansion of Malete waterworks and Agba Dam waterworks, which is almost completed.

    The construction of the Malete waterworks, he said was facilitated by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and would be completed soon and inaugurated.

    He added that the state government would also work on the Oyun waterworks.

    He said that the government appreciated the patience of people of the state while the project lasts.

    NAN

  • Nigeria‘s unity cannot be compromised, say Kukah, Gambari

    Nigeria‘s unity cannot be compromised, say Kukah, Gambari

    The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, the Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, also yesterday said Nigeria‘s unity could not be compromised. He urged citizens to contribute to its greatness.

    Rev. Kukah spoke in Abuja at a national dialogue organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development.

    The theme of the session, the third in the series of national dialogue by the centre, was “Nigeria`s unity and national integration: Threats and opportunities for national development”.

    Rev. Kukah, who reacted to agitations by groups, said politics was strengthened by people having the capacity to express themselves.

    He said that in spite of feelings in parts of the country, unity remained the focus and that it was the responsibility of all to make Nigeria great, the envy of other nations.

    “We cannot recover territory from Boko Haram only to surrender it to others; we are Nigeria and Nigeria will continue to remain.

    “This country belongs to all of us and I think it is important for us to understand that while the protester must have his voice, the one in power must also have his voice.

    “We are before the red sea; this may be Nigeria`s best moment. It is time for us to realise our collective vulnerability,” he said.

    The Bishop added that everyone existed in the country was because there was a Nigeria, adding  that while Nigeria could exist without us, we could not exist without the country.

    He said that the challenge to all should be how to make Nigeria great, stressing that all stakeholders should work to ensure that.

    He expressed regrets that the patriotism of most public office holders ended as soon as they were out of office.

    “Ministers become so patriotic when they are in office and I have seen them come down; no sooner had they lost their positions than their patriotism ended,’’ he said.

    Kukah said “the political class has no time to reflect; we fumble and fumble through problems and we just think that the problems will go away’’.

    Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, founder of the centre and Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative at the United Nations (UN), said that even the United States was still designing a perfect union.

    According to him, the idea is to keep working at it so that there will be less dissatisfaction and more gratification, and an assurance that we are moving in the right direction.

    Gambari said that though personalities were important because they made a difference, leadership was key, and the Nigerian project was a project of all.

    He explained that the objective of the dialogue was to come up with realistic implementable ideas that would develop the country.

    He said that the centre was poised to be part of national discourse, adding that it did not have to always agree on issues raised.

    Gambari advised that consensus was not built by creating enemies, but by engaging people with divergent views.

    Gambari said “from experience, parties to a conflict and disagreement stand their ground best when they are standing within a common ground.”

    He was optimistic that panels at the session would come up with a robust deliberation with actionable and viable recommendation for the country‘s policy makers.

  • Divisive agitations dangerous, says Gambari

    Former Foreign Affairs Minister Prof Ibrahim Gambari warned yesterday that the current wave of divisive agitations and violent conduct in the country has dire consequences.

    ”We can’t afford them because they are disruptive and dangerous. The little fires starting to burn across the country must not be allowed to result in a conflagration from which none can escape,” the ex-Nigeria Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said at the fifth convocation of the Kwara State

    University,  Malete.

    He recalled that the Civil War of 1967-70 was preceded by the kind of hate statements now emanating from different quarters of the country. “This nonsense must stop. It must stop because Nigeria cannot afford it,” he said.

    “At a time when we seek to reposition our country for stronger national cohesion and economic resurgence, to play our destined role in Africa and the world, we do not need this distraction.

    “Governments across the country need a peaceful political and security atmosphere that allows them to concentrate on delivering the promised dividends of democracy to the people. “We can’t afford it because it hurts our image in the region, in Africa and around the world. What investor, donor or ally would confidently associate with a country under threat of disintegration, confusion or instability? None.

    “If we are to leverage on our considerable economic potential and human capital, we have no choice but to demonstrate to the world that we are a viable destination and ally. Our size and diversity should therefore, be taken as advantages that help us to build a great economy with huge political influences.

    “It worries me that some of our compatriots seem to have forgotten so soon the great prize we paid fighting the civil war; lives were lost, properties were destroyed and nation building was stunted.’’

    He appealed to political, traditional, religious and business leaders to not only speak out against the negative developments, but also to take immediate positive action to bring an end to them, “otherwise, their actions could be interpreted as collusion with the forces of division and violence.”

    He, however, praised government at all levels as well as individuals for their efforts to calm the situation, saying that such efforts were necessary to prevent a breakdown of law and order, imbue confidence in government by citizens across the country, and, thereby strengthen national unity .

    Gambari acknowledged the clamour for discussions on various national issues, including the review of the structures of the nation’s governance, and said: “the 2014 national conference document is a useful starting point for such review and the federal government should provide enabling environment for such open discussion that will lead to review to commence and reduce tension in the polity.