Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to late President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that members of Buhari’s cabal would often bypass him to smuggle memos to the former president. According to Gambari, the cabal knew Buhari’s weak moments and would take advantage of those moments to get their memos to him without going through the proper channels.
Gambari made this revelation on Channels Television’s Inside Sources programme, where he shared his experiences as Buhari’s Chief of Staff from May 2020 to May 2023. He stated that despite Buhari’s public declaration that all memos must go through him before reaching the president, some individuals were still able to get their memos to Buhari through informal channels.
The former diplomat attributed this to the cabal’s knowledge of Buhari’s weaknesses and their ability to exploit them. However, Gambari noted that he had the advantage of memos coming back to him, suggesting that he was still able to keep track of the issues being brought to the president’s attention.
Gambari also shared his reflections on his time with Buhari, describing the late president as a compassionate man who loved his appointees and Nigerians. He revealed that Buhari’s reluctance to sack members of his cabinet despite public pressure was due to his affection for them.
On the issue of the cabal, Gambari confirmed that Buhari had a group of powerful individuals who shaped his opinions and decisions. However, he noted that every government has a cabal or think tank of some kind, and that it’s a natural part of the presidency to have people with whom the president can freely discuss issues.
Gambari’s comments provide insight into the inner workings of Buhari’s administration and the role of the cabal in shaping the president’s decisions.