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Author: Sowore Omoyele
Posted to the web: 6/20/2005 7:49:41 AM

If the Abacha repressive regime were a soccer team, Professor Ibrahim Gambari would be one of the '1st eleven players' or at least a quarter back on the reserve bench in the government squad.Though Abacha didn't play soccer, he certainly sat on a killer squad that faced down members of the opposition-all lovers of democracy, and ordinary Nigerians in and out of Nigeria-while his bestial reign lasted.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who some people claim is an intelligent man, used his 'intelligence' to defend the draconain policies of the Abacha regime while he was Nigeria's Permanent Representative at the United Nations. He was one of Abacha's equivalents of the 'goebel' representing the infamous dictator with a vigor and a propensity that could only be found in fascist Italy of old. He was once quoted as saying, 'Nigerians don't need democracy because democracy is not food. It is not their priority now.' As more pressure mounted on the Abacha regime from all corners of the world, Professor Gambari became more notorious and ruthless in defending and deflecting attacks against Abacha dictatorship.
I remember his many appearances on cable news channels, especially after Abacha murdered environmentalists and author, Ken Saro-Wiwa following what can be described as a kangaroo trial. Professor Gambari stoically denied that the Abacha regime had committed a crime; he labeled Saro-Wiwa a 'common criminal' who had engaged in the murder of some Ogoni elders. It was Gambari and Tom Ikimi who went all over the world to convince and blackmail governments of nations opposed to the killing of Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8. They tried in vain to convince the governments of some countries, but it was also clear that they may have succeeded in blackmailing some countries into silence or acquiscence. There are claims that Professor Ibrahim Gambari had access to the Nigerian treasury; he had limitless resources to do what ever he wanted in the name of protecting the Abacha regime. After the demise of Abacha, his other co-dictators and collaborators were put in their place: Call it the Nigerian Hall of Shame. Professor Ibrahim Gambari has not been touched, he has not been called to account. Unlike the Useni's, Mustapha, and Gwarzo, he did not appear before the hapless 'Oputa Panel' to explain his ignominious role. Instead he was elevated by Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, to the position of Under-Secretary and Special Adviser on Africa at the UN. The reasons are not far-fetched. Kofi Annan wasn't too keen on democratization efforts in Nigeria; he was already in cohorts with the Abacha regime through his son, Kodjo, who was involved in the oil business in Nigeria. Kodjolives a life of opulence in Lagos. There had been rumors Gambari was the link between Abacha, Annan and their businesses. Even after the death of Abacha, Kofi Annan's visits to Nigeria were primarily to prevail on Chief M.K.O Abiola to forget about his June 12 mandate. He didn't care about Abiola's freedom so he quietly went to meet him in jail and asked him to 'fuggetabutit.' It is a known fact that Prof. Gambari had briefed Annan adequately about the real deal.