FORMER presidential spokesman Garba Shehu has dismissed notions of cabals being in control of his former principal’s government.
According to Shehu, such statements are sheer nonsense, and he maintained that final decision-making rested on former President Muhammadu Buhari’s table
”This thing about cabaks is sheer nonsense, let me tell you, Buhari is a military general even when he becomes a converted democrat,” the former presidential aide said on Friday on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by News Point Nigeria.
Rumours about Buhari’s government being infiltrated by a power ring dominated the headlines, with former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung claiming that Buhari had become a stranger in his administration.
Dalung in January said, “Of course, President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had cabals. That is known and that I have attested to. But I am saying that President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabals were made up of people who were not quite informed, with little experience in politics, public administration, and governance.
Shehu insisted that Buhari wasn’t one to take orders but rather give them
”I can tell you that I know not one person who can give you 100% assurance that I tell Buhari ABC is black, he will say ABC is black.No, he had his own mind.”
”You could have people around you and have people advise you, but the box stopped on his table,” he said.
Shehu also added that the former president was aware of key national issues, contrary to what many perceived
”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 said
He also said Buhari’s non-interference in how ministers ran their various ministries had been misconstrued as disinterest in the running of the nation.
”Buhari was not neddlesome, he never pretended like he owned Nigeria. He wasn’t a dictator,” he said.
When asked if his principal was pivotal in the success of President Bola Tinubu emerging winner of the 2023 election, Shehu said, “Someone must have seen that in their dream, it didn’t happen.
“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.”
