PROFESSOR Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed how members of the influential inner circle often referred to as “the cabal” bypassed official protocols to sneak memos directly to the former leader, despite presidential directives that all communications should pass through him.
Gambari, who served as Buhari’s Chief of Staff from May 2020 to May 2023, disclosed this in a candid interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources programme on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria.
The session, which aired days after Buhari’s death on July 13, 2025, offered rare insight into the internal dynamics of Nigeria’s presidential villa under the former military leader turned democratic president.
“They knew his weak moments. They knew when to smuggle [memos] because they had informal access to him,” Gambari said.
The veteran diplomat and former United Nations envoy was appointed Chief of Staff following the death of Abba Kyari, who held the position until his passing in April 2020.
At the time, Buhari had declared publicly that all official communications, including memos from ministers and even the Vice President, must pass through the Chief of Staff’s office.
“To his credit, even Vice President Yemi Osinbajo always sent his memos through me,” Gambari noted.
“Many ministers did the same. But there were still people who got their documents to him from behind—because they knew who to use and how.”
He explained that while the president never explicitly blocked these backchannel communications, the memos would often find their way back to his desk.
“The advantage I had,” he added, “was that the memos usually came back to me for processing or feedback.”
Reflecting on Buhari’s personality, Gambari described him as a compassionate and loyal leader, who despite numerous calls for cabinet reshuffles, was reluctant to dismiss ministers or senior aides.
“He truly loved Nigerians and had deep affection for his appointees. He was not the kind of leader who fired people easily. He believed in loyalty, even when others were calling for changes,” he said.
Gambari painted a portrait of a president who often prioritized personal relationships and loyalty over political expediency, a characteristic that many believe contributed to the influence of certain individuals in his inner circle.
On the widely discussed issue of a so-called “cabal” operating behind the scenes during Buhari’s presidency, Gambari confirmed their existence, stating that such power structures are a normal feature of any administration.
“Yes, there was a cabal. But every government has a cabal. You can call them a kitchen cabinet, think tank, or informal advisers,” Gambari stated.
He compared Buhari’s situation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also surrounded himself with trusted aides and intellectuals like the late Professor Ojetunji Aboyade.
These individuals, Gambari said, served as sounding boards and private counsellors to the president.
“It’s the nature of the presidency. Every leader needs a group of people, both inside and outside government with whom they can speak freely and get unfiltered advice,” he added.
However, he admitted that some cabal members during Buhari’s tenure may have wielded more influence than was healthy for governance, though he emphasized they “knew their limits.”
Gambari also reflected on Buhari’s past military leadership, recalling reports that one of the reasons for his ouster as Head of State in 1985 was the perception among military colleagues that he was increasingly relying on civilians for advice and second-guessing military decisions.
“I was a minister between 1984 and 1985 during Buhari’s military government, but I wasn’t privy to why he was overthrown.
I later heard that his colleagues resented the fact that he was listening to civilian advisers more than the Supreme Military Council,” Gambari said.
Born in 1942, Muhammadu Buhari led Nigeria as a military Head of State from 1984 to 1985 before returning in 2015 as a democratically elected president. He served two terms, stepping down in 2023 after handing over to his successor, President Bola Tinubu.
Following his death in July 2025, tributes have poured in from world leaders, Nigerian citizens, and former aides among them Professor Gambari, whose latest remarks offer a revealing look into the power structures, challenges, and personality traits that shaped the Buhari presidency.