Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has asserted that every president operates with a ''cabal''or an inner circle of trusted advisors dismissing notions that such a group uniquely hijacked decisions during Buhari's administration.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television's *Politics Today* programme on Monday, the retired diplomat and seasoned international figure addressed lingering controversies about unelected influencers in Buhari's eight-year tenure. Critics have long accused a shadowy "cabal" of sidelining official structures, limiting access to the president, and driving controversial policies.
Gambari pushed back firmly against exaggerated claims. "Every president had a cabal of a sort," he explained. "You might call them the inner circle, the inner caucus—people close to them with shared experiences, a common perception of the future, and the candour to speak plainly." He acknowledged that some cabals prioritize telling leaders what they want to hear rather than what they need to know, adding that influence varies across administrations, with some proving more loyal and principled than others.
In Buhari's case, Gambari stressed that the so-called cabal members understood their boundaries. "Sometimes more powers are ascribed to these cabals than is actually the case," he noted. "I know the people labelled as the cabal in Buhari’s administration knew their limitations and dared not overstep, because everyone recognised Buhari's creative stubbornness." He likened this trait to the resolute determination once seen in figures like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The comments arrive amid ongoing public scrutiny of Buhari's leadership style and the informal networks that shaped it. Gambari's insights, drawn from his service from 2020 to 2023—following the death of his predecessor, Abba Kyari—offer a rare insider perspective on the dynamics of power in Nigeria's presidency.
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