Abuja — Ibrahim Gambari is one of Nigeria's most experienced diplomats, having served as the country's foreign minister – the youngest – under then-military leader Muhammadu Buhari in the mid-1980s and as Nigeria's UN ambassador for a decade. After retiring in 2012 from the United Nations, where he served in a series of senior posts, he established a Nigerian-based think tank, the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) focusing on peacemaking, democracy and economic development. He is also the co-chair, along with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, of the high-level Commission on Global Security, Justice and Governance which has issued a report calling for urgent reform at the United Nations. In an interview with Reed Kramer in Abuja after Buhari was inaugurated as President, Professor Gambari shared his up-close perspective on Nigeria's new leader and his views on priorities for the country moving forward.
Let's start with history. What was it like to be a minister when the new President was military ruler?
As foreign minister – at age 40, I served on the Federal Executive Council – the equivalent of the Cabinet. Although he was military ruler, he was more of a presiding officer, rather than a dictator. He gave everyone a chance to speak, and there were times when memorandum that he prepared would have to be withdrawn [because] some of us 'young Turks' were opposed. He is now a democratically elected leader, and he swore to defend and protect the constitution. He has to act within the constitutional framework. His commitment to the democratic process was proven by the fact that he ran four times for President.
Based on your experience, do you believe he can unify the country and govern effectively?
Absolutely. Buhari carried virtually all of the States of the north and the southwest. Even the preeminent leader of the north, Sir Ahmadu Bello, at the height of his power during the First Republic immediately after independence, didn't control what are now the 19 states in the north as thoroughly as Buhari does. It gives him a very strong position on delivering education, health and economic development. In the past, those were prioritized. Unfortunately over the years those have been degraded. There are very high expectations for this President and this incoming administration – and tremendous good will, both at home and abroad.
What do you think President Buhari can do about corruption?
President Buhari was elected, in part, because of his commitment to fighting corruption. People have confidence in him. Anti-corruption was a key element for him when he was military leader. The context is different, of course. You have to perform anticorruption efforts in the framework of the constitution. There are structures and institution in the democratic setting that have not always performed up to par – the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices Commission) and the police. I believe he will appoint strong people to head those. There is so much hemorrhaging of revenue from corrupt practices, and he needs all the money he can get to implement his programs and get the economy moving again and get this huge youth unemployment problem under control. The country requires significant foreign investment, but foreigners will not be keen to invest unless these leakages and corruption are dealt with. Foreign investors need for Nigerians themselves to invest in their own country. They need that signal.
How will Buhari handle Boko Haram?
There are three dimensions. First is to re-professionalize the military - serious security sector reform is very essential. Boko Haram has to be fought at the military level and it's capacity degraded. He has already moved the command and control center for the Nigerian armed forces to the theater of battle, Maiduguri. Secondly, his first official visits outside of the country were to neighboring countries, Niger and Chad. I think that is very appropriate because there is no way to successfully defeat Boko Haram except in the context of the region. Third, what will have to come shortly is addressing the socio-economic conditions of that area. Conditions in the northeast are horrendous. Reconstruction, rebuilding, rehabilitation, restoring social services, putting education back at the forefront of services to the communities – all this has to be done for the people of that area.
What is the state of the education system in Nigeria?
It's near collapse. This has really been neglected. After independence you had the University of Ibadan, one of the finest – if not the best in sub Saharan Africa. Education was taken very seriously by the post-independence government. You had rivalries emerged among the regions. Nnamdi Azikwe (Nigeria's first president) established the University of Nigeria in Nssuka, and soon after you had Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife and Ahmadu Bello University in the north. There was healthy rivalry on delivering educational facilities to the people. Then they moved to economic development. There was the Western Region Development Corporation, Eastern Region Development Corporation, Northern Nigerian Development Corporation. Social services were prioritized. Unfortunately over the years those structures have been degraded. If you had a University degree from Nigeria in the early 60s you almost could just walk in to a Master's degree in most universities. Now that's not the case, most certificates from Nigerian universities are questioned. You have people with university degrees who cannot write properly. So, the priority has to be education and science and technology in particular, because for Nigeria to compete in an increasingly competitive world we really have to put a lot of resources in education, science and technology.
Turning to foreign policy, do you expect to see an improvement in relations with the United States and the rest of the world?
I think that there's an opportunity for a new beginning. The role that the United States and Britain played in the last election was overwhelmingly positive. President Obama made an unusual video statement addressed to the people of Nigeria calling for credible and peaceful elections. As you know, Secretary Kerry came to Nigeria to meet with the two major candidates, asking them to accept the results. During the vote counting, there was a joint statement by the United States and United Kingdom. Those steps show the importance of the relationship the United States has with Nigeria and, the importance of the elections in Nigeria.
There are 10 elections this year in Africa, and it's clear that whatever happens in Nigeria will have an effect on their elections. Thank God, we had a positive outcome. All the efforts of civil society and the National Peace Committee headed by General Abdulsalami and my own Savannah Center, through the Council of the Wise, whose chair is former Supreme Court Justice Uwais - these efforts contributed in no small way to the outcome. The bonus was that former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and helped avoid what could have happened if he didn't and if a result was declared contrary to the popular wish of the people.
There's an opportunity with the new government, whose priorities are very close to what the United States would like to see as priorities. They would like to engage more seriously - security, Boko Haram and terrorism, the issue of the economy and the issue of governance; particularly tackling corruption. I think that the fact that Kerry was here, the fact that the British Foreign Secretary was here for the inauguration, signifies a belief and willingness to open a new chapter, and deepen and the relationship and cooperation.
Do you foresee a change in Nigeria's relationship with the rest of the African continent?
Yes, I do. I think that they expect Nigeria to resume its role as an active and activist member of the African Union, exhibit leadership in West Africa, and to add weight to Africa's voice in the world. Unfortunately in the last few years, It has become quite weak, and in some cases non-existent. Some issues are now global in nature - terrorism, Ebola, financing for development. There will be a Summit of world leaders in September in New York to chart a new course following the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals. Now they are discussing Sustainable Development Goals. On all of these issues, Africa's voice needs to be strong.
I believe that in coming in such numbers [to the Inauguration] African leaders are showing their commitment to work with Nigeria and for Nigeria to resume its leading role in African affairs, Nigeria led in the struggle for decolonization and the struggle against apartheid I think the leaders to say they want a return to that activist role and leadership role.
What about professionalizing the Foreign Service and civil service sector?
Foreign Service is an elite service [and] has to be given special attention. At the National Conference, one of the major recommendations of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora was to separate Foreign Service from the home service and setup a separate commission that will be responsible for recruitment, appointment, discipline, and promotion of Foreign Service officers. We also suggested a reduction in the proportion of non-career individuals as ambassadors. Re-professionalization of the entire public worker sector is something that I feel confident the new administration will focus on. You need people who will implement the programs with a degree of commitment, zero tolerance for corruption, and an emphasis on training.
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How can the outcomes from the National Conference contribute to the country's future?
Whatever the motivation of the President that convened that conference, it was 492 Nigerians sitting together for five months, reaching consensus on 22 different subjects with respect to our national life. We produced a report which prioritized recommendations that can be implemented by the executive within their powers, those that require changing our laws and those requiring constitutional amendments. These are all now in the public domain, and it has been copied and submitted to the new President. It is my hope and expectation that this report should be looked into seriously and those recommendations consistent with the manifesto of the ruling party, the philosophy and vision of the new President will be adopted.
Finally, what are the prospects for national reconciliation?
This country was so deeply divided by the time President Jonathan left – along ethnic lines, religious lines - sometimes, one suspects, for political advantage. The priority is to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the government. All of those divides need to be bridged so that Nigeria will be once again open for business. Not just 'business' business, but political business, diplomatic business. Expectations are huge and impossible to meet at once. Nigerians are not always a very patient people, but they have to be patient. The damage done has been horrendous.
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