By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Gambari unveils how Obasanjo missed UN Secretary-General role, highlights Boutros Noutros-Ghali’s legacy
In a revealing account, diplomat and former Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, detailed how ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s military background hindered his chances of becoming the UN Secretary-General in 1991. Gambari shared this insight during the public launch of the first English biography of the inaugural African UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.
Gambari recalled a conversation where an envoy remarked, “Your candidate (Olusegun Obasanjo) has no chance in hell of becoming secretary.” The envoy emphasized that for major powers, the focus was on the “secretary” rather than the “general.” This perspective led to Boutros-Ghali’s appointment, as he was perceived as a “secretary” but demonstrated a “general’s” approach.
Gambari also highlighted Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s significant role as the de-facto foreign minister of Egypt during the peace treaty negotiations with Israel from 1977 to 1981. He noted that Boutros-Ghali faced challenges organizing security council meetings with heads of states as delegates during his tenure.
Regarding Boutros-Ghali’s career, Gambari pointed to the tragic low point of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, where the UN’s response was deemed inadequate. The author of the biography, Prof. Adekeye Adebajo, emphasized that Boutros Boutros-Ghali acted as a peace-making prophet during the Egypt-Israel peace treaty negotiations.