I excuse myself - Gambari - Nigerian Village Square

Jul

2008

I excuse myself - Gambari

PRESS STATEMENT

I am grateful to H.E. President Yar’Adua and Vice-President Jonathan for appointing me as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the National Summit on the Niger Delta and particularly for the confidence reposed in me to help resolve one of the most intractable problems facing our country.

I wish to put on record that I did not seek the position and I am not desperate to retain it. I felt it was my patriotic duty to accept the appointment and to discharge my duties to the best of my abilities. I have nothing but the highest regard for the people of the Niger Delta as an integral part of the Nigerian nation. It is my belief that the focus of this enterprise should be the Niger Delta but the perspective should be national while the international concern should not be ignored. Furthermore, I believe that with my decades of experience in conflict resolution and management, I could make a contribution towards finding a just and lasting solution to the problem in the Niger Delta. I could also help mobilize international support for the implementation of the concrete outcomes of the Summit.

However, in spite of the best intentions of the President and the Federal Government as well as my own commitment in accepting the position, my appointment has attracted what appears to be a well-orchestrated and relentless opposition from some quarters, institutions, groups and individuals who may nonetheless be central to the resolution of the crisis in the Delta. As a result, my name has become the issue in place of the attempt at finding a just and lasting solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta.

In light of this, I have contacted the Presidency and asked to be excused as the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Summit. The laudable objectives of the federal government should not be defeated only because of the person in charge of the Steering Committee. The crisis in the Delta and the country are much bigger than an individual. And no individual must stand in the way of the resolution of the crisis, including my humble self.

I thank the President and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the opportunity and their understanding on this matter. I stand ready to continue to make my contribution, as a Nigerian and based on my experience as a national and international civil servant, towards the peace, stability and social economic development of our country.

9 July 2008
New York

Your Comments

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Robot

# 1 | 09.07.2008 21:36

	PRESS STATEMENT I am grateful to H.E. President Yar’Adua and Vice-President Jona...Read the full article.

philipikita philipikita is offline

# 2 | 09.07.2008 23:58

	I am disappointed in this belated "stand down" from you Gambari. How can we differentiate the "world class" diplomat you claim to be, from desperate PDP politians? You should have done that long ago, when you were reminded of your calling Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 others "common criminals". Instead of promptly letting go, you held on desperately. May be you had a hidden agenda. You showed desperation by going to the press earlier to talk down on people opposing your appointment. You were hounded out. Simple. Just leave with your tail between your legs, like the shamed dog.

MrOneNaija MrOneNaija is offline

# 3 | 10.07.2008 00:18

	Noble words! Nigerians should express their appreciation that Ambassador Gambari, and to a large extent, Yar'Adua, have, in this matter, decided to put the superior interests of the nation over and above any personal considerations. Those wanting to manufacture distractions or pointless alibis as a way of scuttling the nation's quest for a peaceful resolution of the N-D crisis are advised to beware the consequences on the society of a mindless tactic that panders to hate and other destructive impulses.

Free Publius Free Publius is offline

# 4 | 10.07.2008 00:21

	It is unfortunate that this fine professional has to step down and is unable to serve his country. Let's now see how long it takes the unimaginative commentators to find another fault with another aspect of the process. My prediction - the whole thing will come to naught anyway. It will inevitablly get mired in the usual Nigerian morass of corrupt ineptitude. There are too many slothful, armchair variety of the Nigerian political class whose continuing utility and benefit depend on the chaos that prevails in the Niger Delta. Very unfortunate. Free Publius

Agidimolaja Agidimolaja is offline

# 5 | 10.07.2008 01:21

	All people that came into my house made me happy.Some by coming,some by leaving. Gambari made me happy by leaving the stage of Niger Delta Summit.I wish he did so more honourably.

fxo

# 6 | 10.07.2008 02:05

	The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be. Socrates Gambari may be trying to follow Socretes's advice.

Babatoks Babatoks is offline

# 7 | 10.07.2008 02:46

	It is a rather late excuse, isn't it? Or rather, he should not have accepted it in the first place, because immediately his name was announced or put forward, the Niger Delta people said no to the choice of him, knowing his previous statement about Saro Wiwa and the Ogonis during Abacha's time. By stepping down however, he should be commended. In Nigeria, it is very rare to see such virtues.

Ukpana Okpoko Gbulu Ukpana Okpoko Gbulu is offline

# 8 | 10.07.2008 03:14

	"Furthermore, I believe that with my decades of experience in conflict resolution and management, I could make a contribution towards finding a just and lasting solution to the problem in the Niger Delta. I could also help mobilize international support for the implementation of the concrete outcomes of the Summit." {Quote} What an arrogant man! How much has he really succeeded in Mynmar? The recent face off between the Mynmar Junta and the world showed that Gambari's diplomacy did not succeed. Talking of mobilizing international support, where has he been all these years when evil governments subjected Nigera and Nigerains to terror? Why could he not mobilize inetrnational support to help his own country. Just because he has been rejected he now arrogates influence that he does not have to himself. A careful reading of his text even suggests the disdain he holds for the south-south. What Nigertia needs are compassionate and less arrogant, know-it-all people.

igwe

# 9 | 10.07.2008 03:38

	Good riddance. You were looking like an undertaker after telling the whole world that Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni martyrs were common criminals. Ledum Mittee, one of those you called a common criminal, is still the president of MOSOP and one of those you would have to deal with if you went ahead as the chair of the summit. Shame on you for having accepted the assignment in the first place.

akuluouno akuluouno is offline

# 10 | 10.07.2008 05:16

	Thank you YE Amb IG for coming to the village to talk. Our fathers say better late than never. Now the logic follows that your previous utterances wrt KSW led to your rejection by the ND. These utterances are well documented and historical facts. Now is it not time you also resign your commission from the UN the world body which fights for human rights and international peace. Your stay there is now tenous because you are a prophet rejected by your people, how can you now perform your duties to the world. I think your honor will be complete if you also resign your commission at the UN, come home and set up and NGO or think tank on the Niger Delta to show that you are indeed a patriot and an international peacemaker extra ordinary. cc HE Ban Ki Moon:eek::cool::cool:

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