Former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as a troubling pattern among Nigeria’s political elite—where those who gain the most from the country often show the least commitment to its progress and stability.
Gambari made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, reflecting on his time in government and the realities of Nigeria’s political landscape. According to him, his three-year tenure within the Buhari administration offered him a rare and close-up understanding of the immense power and potential of the presidency, as well as the challenges that hinder meaningful national development.
He noted that while the office of the president holds enormous capacity to drive change, many individuals who aggressively pursue political power are unwilling to shoulder the responsibilities and sacrifices that leadership demands. Gambari argued that true governance goes beyond holding office and requires fairness, justice, and a willingness to place national interest above ethnic or religious considerations.
“What has been most disturbing to me,” he explained, “is seeing how those who have benefited most from what Nigeria offers are often the least dedicated to ensuring its stability, growth, and long-term development. They desire power, but they resist the sacrifices that come with governing responsibly—sacrifices such as acting justly and thinking as Nigerians first, rather than through narrow ethnic or religious lenses.”
While acknowledging that these realities weigh heavily on him, Gambari maintained that opportunities for reform and progress still exist. However, he cautioned that experience in governance also reveals the structural and political constraints that make rapid transformation difficult, even for leaders with good intentions.
Gambari was appointed Chief of Staff to President Buhari in 2020, following the death of Abba Kyari, who had previously held the position. Notably, Gambari had earlier served as a minister during Buhari’s military government in the 1980s, making his return to public service under Buhari’s civilian administration particularly significant.
Explaining why Buhari selected him once again, Gambari credited the former president’s strong sense of loyalty to individuals he believed had contributed meaningfully to his personal and political development. He revealed that his appointment was not the result of lobbying or recommendations from others, but rather a personal decision by Buhari himself.
“I must give him credit for this,” Gambari said. “President Buhari is loyal—sometimes to a fault—to those he believes played a role in his growth and earlier successes. No one put my name forward. He simply instructed that I should be brought back.”
Gambari’s comments have reignited conversations about leadership, accountability, and the ethical demands of public office in Nigeria, especially at a time when citizens continue to call for governance rooted in integrity, inclusiveness, and national unity.
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