Former presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has dismissed widespread claims that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was hijacked by a group of unelected power brokers, often referred to as cabals.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Shehu described such narratives as “sheer nonsense,” insisting that Buhari remained fully in charge of his government throughout his tenure.
He said, “This thing about cabals is sheer nonsense. Let me tell you, Buhari is a military general—even when he becomes a converted democrat.”
Responding to long-held speculations that the former president was heavily influenced by a cabal, Shehu stated that Buhari was not one to take instructions from any group or individual.
Shehu said, “I can tell you that I know not one person who can give you 100% assurance that if they tell Buhari ABC is black, he will say ABC is black. No. He had his own mind.
“You could have people around you and people advise you, but the box stopped on his table.”
Naijaonpoint reports that his remarks appeared to counter earlier statements by former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, who in January alleged that Buhari had been sidelined in his own government by inexperienced allies.
Dalung had said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had cabals. That is known and I have attested to that. But I am saying that Buhari’s cabals were made up of people who were not quite informed, with little experience in politics, public administration, and governance.”
Shehu, however, refuted this claim, maintaining that decision-making never left Buhari’s desk.
The former aide also praised Buhari’s attention to detail and understanding of national matters, contrary to public assumptions that he was detached from the workings of his government.
He said, “I will say with all emphasis, that Buhari will be assessed, if it can be done, perhaps as the most aware president this country has had.”
He explained that Buhari’s non-interference in the daily operations of ministers may have been wrongly interpreted by critics as indifference.
“Buhari was not meddlesome; he never pretended like he owned Nigeria. He wasn’t a dictator,” Shehu noted.
Regarding whether Buhari played a significant role in ensuring the emergence of President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election, Shehu stated that no such intervention occurred.
“Someone must have seen that in their dream, it didn’t happen,” he said bluntly.
According to Shehu, Tinubu himself acknowledged that his victory was the result of a free and fair election, with no interference from Buhari.
He said, “I sat with President Bola Tinubu after his victory, and he told me that ‘President Buhari allowed me to win in a free and fair election.”