Ex-Buhari Chief of Staff Dismisses ‘Cabal’ Claims, Says Every President Has Inner Circle

Former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has pushed back against narratives that an unofficial cabal hijacked power during the Buhari administration, stating that every president works with a close circle of advisers.

The retired diplomat made these remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, addressing long-standing public speculation about unelected influencers in the previous government.

“Every president had a cabal of a sort. You might call them the inner circle or the inner caucus,” Gambari said. He explained that such groups consist of trusted individuals who share experiences and perspectives with the president, though he cautioned that some may tell a leader “what he wants to hear” rather than what he needs to know.

Gambari acknowledged the existence of influential insiders but argued their power was often overstated. “Sometimes more powers are ascribed to this cabal than actually is the case,” he noted, adding that those around Buhari understood their limits.

He attributed this restraint to Buhari’s firm leadership style, describing him as possessing “creative stubbornness” in his convictions, similar to the late statesman Obafemi Awolowo.

The former Chief of Staff also addressed the bizarre conspiracy theory that Buhari had been replaced by a body double nicknamed ‘Jibril of Sudan,’ calling it “quite a silly thing.” He recalled that Buhari spoke in detail about their shared history from the 1980s, which personally reassured him of the president’s identity.

Gambari concluded by emphasizing the importance of capable and loyal support staff to any presidency, remarking that “a president, in many ways, can be only as good as the people who support and back him.”