Former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, has confirmed the existence of a cabal during the late president’s administration, stating that such inner circles exist in every government under various names.
Gambari made this known on Friday, July 18, during an interview on Inside Sources, a Channels Television programme, where he reflected on his time in office and the dynamics within the Buhari presidency.
“They say there was a cabal, there was. Every government has a cabal. They may call them a kitchen cabinet; they may call them a think tank,” he said.
According to the veteran diplomat, even former President Olusegun Obasanjo had a close group of trusted individuals who influenced decision-making behind the scenes.
“(Former President Olusegun) Obasanjo had a group of people. The Aboyades of this world and others – a small group of people.
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“It’s the nature of the office of the president that they must have some people in and out of government whom they can let their guard down to and talk to freely,” he explained.
Gambari added, “Some have more powers than others, but I’m bold to say that every government has a cabal of some kind or another, whatever name it is called. So, there was (a cabal under Buhari).”
He also drew a connection between Buhari’s leadership style during his military regime in the 1980s and the role of informal advisers, saying it partly contributed to his removal by his colleagues.
“I was a minister 1884-1985 but I wasn’t privy to why he was removed by his colleagues; they put him there but one of the reasons I’m told was the military people were resenting the fact that Head of State Buhari was now getting a lot of advice and second-guessing the decision of his military colleagues – the Supreme Military Council,” he stated.
Gambari’s comments shed light on the long-rumoured influence of unelected individuals and informal advisers who shaped key decisions in Buhari’s government.