Former Chief of Staff exposes memo smuggling and cabal operations during presidency
Abuja – Professor Ibrahim Gambari revealed how Buhari’s inner circle routinely bypassed his office to access the president directly. The former Chief of Staff told Channels TV’s Inside Sources that close associates smuggled memos past official protocols despite clear presidential directives.
Memo Smuggling Operations
Gambari described how Buhari’s cabal exploited informal relationships to circumvent established procedures. The group studied the president’s habits to time their approaches effectively.
“They knew his weak moments. They knew when to smuggle (memos) because they knew him as they interacted with him informally,” Gambari said.
President Buhari had publicly ordered that all memos pass through the Chief of Staff’s office first. However, inner circle members found ways to deliver documents directly during casual interactions.
“When I came as Chief of Staff to the President, he made a statement publicly. He said all memos must go through the Chief of Staff before coming to him,” Gambari confirmed.
Cabal Existence Confirmed
Gambari acknowledged a powerful cabal operated within Buhari’s presidency. He described such groups as standard features of all administrations.
“They say there was a cabal. There was. Every government has a cabal. They may call them a kitchen cabinet; they may call them a think-tank,” he stated.
The former Chief of Staff compared Buhari’s inner circle to similar groups in previous administrations. He referenced former President Obasanjo’s close advisers as an example.
“Obasanjo had a group of people… It’s the nature of the office of the President that they must have some people… whom they can let their guard down to and talk to freely,” Gambari said.
1985 Coup Connection
Gambari linked Buhari’s reliance on external advice to his removal during military rule in 1985. He served as a minister during Buhari’s first tenure from 1984 to 1985.
“I was a minister 1984-1985 but I wasn’t privy to why he was removed by his colleagues… But one of the reasons I’m told was the military people were resenting the fact that Head of State, Buhari, was now getting a lot of advice and second-guessing the decision of his military colleagues,” he revealed.
Gambari noted that Buhari maintained loyalty to his appointees throughout his presidency. The president rarely dismissed officials, even under pressure from critics.
Presidential Access Patterns
The revelations show how personal relationships can override institutional procedures in government operations. Gambari’s comments provide insight into how informal power structures operated within the presidency.
The former Chief of Staff’s disclosure highlights the gap between official protocols and actual practice during Buhari’s administration.
By Abdullah Korede
