CNPP, foundation urge unfettered freedom for Gambari to develop Nigeria

• Govs urge CoS to demand good governance from ministers
• New appointee to reset presidency says, ex-presidential candidate
• OmoAgege, Abiodun, Afe Babalola, Rabiu congratulate top diplomat

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation have predicted that the nation might thrive if the newly appointed Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, gets a free hand to operate.

According to the opposition parties, the United Nations ex-top official could reinvent governance in the country if granted unfettered freedom to draw from his wealth of experience.

In a statement yesterday by its Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, CNPP implored the presidency to allow the new appointee stabilise the administration.

In another release by the Managing Director, Abubakar Umar, the foundation reposed confidence in the former diplomat to excel on account of his rich credential and international exposure.

Also, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has enjoined the CoS to prevail on the ministers and other appointees of government to internalise good governance.

Its chairman and chief executive of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, held that Gambari’s vast knowledge, experience, discipline and loyalty to Nigeria would further inspire as well as challenge all government officials to achieve global standards on matters relating to national development.

The forum, therefore, pledged support for the Kwara indigene in his quest to help the President achieve the Next Level agenda of the current administration.

In addition, former presidential candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT) in last year’s general election, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said Gambari would reset the presidency.

He noted that the erstwhile UN Under-Secretary-General was coming on board after a meritorious career as a university professor, minister, public administrator and diplomat.

Also yesterday, Deputy Senate President (DSP) Ovie Omo-Agege, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, legal luminary/founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), and the CEO of Kaltum Foundation, Ambassador Ummul-Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu, congratulated the one-time Minister of Foreign Affairs under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) on his appointment.

The DSP’s felicitation was contained in a statement issued by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga.

In his congratulatory letter, Babalola said: “This richly-deserved appointment does not come to me as a surprise, having regard to your intimidating profile and your illustrious career spanning the academia, government and international diplomacy, culminating in your appointment as the first United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa from 1999 to 2005.”