Chief of Staff to Late President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari seems to confirm the fears and complains of Nigerians that Buhari’s administration was hijacked by a powerful but microscopic few.
Gambari who served as chief of staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has shed light on the inner workings of a so-called “cabal” within the Aso Rock presidential complex. In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s program, Inside Sources, Gambari disclosed that certain influential members of Buhari’s inner circle frequently circumvented official communication protocols to deliver memos directly to the president.
Gambari recounted that despite Buhari’s clear directive for all official correspondence to go through the chief of staff, some individuals managed to exploit informal relationships to navigate around this rule. “They understood his vulnerabilities and knew exactly when to slip in memos,” Gambari stated, emphasizing the close interactions these members had with Buhari.
Upon assuming his role, Gambari noted Buhari publicly declared that all memos should be routed through him, yet many still found their way to the president through backdoor channels. “Even Vice President Yemi Osinbajo consistently submitted his memos through me, but others found ways to bypass this process, knowing who to approach in Buhari’s circle,” he explained.
Despite the challenges posed by these backdoor communications, Gambari maintained a level of oversight, as most memos eventually returned to his desk.
Reflecting on the nature of power dynamics within presidential administrations, Gambari asserted that the existence of a cabal is not unique to Buhari’s leadership. He remarked, “Every presidency has its own cabal, whether referred to as a kitchen cabinet or think tank.” He further illustrated this point by referencing past administrations, including those led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also surrounded himself with trusted advisors.
The Chief of Staffs disclosure gives insight into the intricacies, confusion, sabotage, influencing and interferences perpetuated by a few men with access to the man at the seat of power.
