Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has confirmed that a cabal operated within Aso Rock during Buhari’s time in office.
His revelation comes just days after the former president was buried following his death in London on Sunday, Dockaysworld reports.
Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Gambari disclosed that certain individuals close to the presidency sometimes bypassed official procedures and influenced major decisions, despite the president’s clear directives.
“There was a cabal in Aso Rock during Buhari’s administration—just like in every other administration,” he said. “Some may call them a kitchen cabinet, others call them a think tank. Obasanjo also had a group of people like that. It’s the nature of the office of the President.”
Gambari, who served from 2020 to 2023 after the death of Abba Kyari, explained that Buhari insisted all government memos pass through his office. However, despite the directive, some individuals within the cabal continued to wield unusual influence.
“When I was appointed as Chief of Staff, the President made it clear that every memo must pass through my office—even the Vice President complied. Yet, some people still found ways to bypass the process. They knew the weak points—who to use—and he never stopped them,” he said.
Though he did not name anyone, his remarks is similar concerns raised by First Lady Aisha Buhari during her husband’s presidency. Between 2019 and 2020, she repeatedly warned of a “cabal” controlling access to the president and manipulating his decisions.
Among those widely believed to be part of this group were the late Abba Kyari, Mamman Daura (Buhari’s nephew), and Sabiu “Tunde” Yusuf, a personal aide. These individuals were seen as central figures behind the scenes and were frequently accused of sidelining formal institutions and influencing top-level appointments.
Gambari added that Buhari remained in charge in many cases but occasionally allowed the cabal’s actions to stand when political considerations were involved.
“When some memos came back to me and we talked about certain decisions, he would immediately change some. But for others, he would say, ‘Prof., let this go—just to protect me,’” he revealed.
The former Chief of Staff’s comments come in the midst of national mourning for the former president. Muhammadu Buhari died in a London hospital following a prolonged illness. His body was flown to Nigeria and buried in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, July 15, in accordance with Islamic rites.
A state funeral was held with political leaders in attendance, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as well as governors and other dignitaries.
The presidency has since declared three days of national mourning in his honour, and tributes continue to pour in for the late leader who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
