I’m An Accidental Diplomat, Says Prof Gambari

Nigeria’s former permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Professor Ibrahim Gambari, described himself as an accidental diplomat yesterday.

Gambari, a former chief of staff in the presidency, said he wanted to be a teacher.

The renowned diplomat and academician spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the launch of a book titled “Readings in Diplomacy, Democracy, Peace, and Development”, written in his honour.

The event, which formed part of activities marking Gambari’s 80th year birthday, was organised by the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria (COSFAN).

“They plan, I plan, but I ‘m the best planner”, Gambari quoted Allah as saying in the holy Qur’an, adding that up till now, I still tell people to refer to me as a 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 villages in the now Moro local government area of Kwara State to become one-time president of the United Nations Security Council.

“I served my country as the longest-serving ambassador at the United Nations. That was not also a happy period because I was constantly 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, Sanni 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’s 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 the 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, and that’s why I have never been far from home or my people. And I look forward to spending 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 foreign policy, which I have always advocated, and the centre must be the state, next to our neighbour, region (ECOWAS), Africa, and the rest of the world. Now, foreign policy shifts from administration to administration, but in essence, it must be pursued within those frameworks and contexts.

“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 do you conduct yourself in such a way to attain them in the interest of your country”, he said.

The book’s reviewer, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations (2018-2019), said that insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the north, is caused by poverty, ignorance, mining activities, and weak traditional laws.

He called on the government to improve efforts at addressing these identified causes of insecurity towards bringing about peace and development in the country.

The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, said that the state is always proud that the mention of Professor Ibrahim Gambari commands 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”.

Earlier, Dr Abiola Adimula, chairperson of the local organising committee for the book launch, had described the occasion as a monumental celebration of excellence, service, and leadership.

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