No Government is Cabal-Free – Former Top Aso Rock Insider Reveals

Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has publicly confirmed the existence of a tightly-knit group of influential insiders—commonly referred to as a cabal—during Buhari’s tenure at the helm of Nigeria’s government. In a candid pre-broadcast interview with Laolu Akande, ex-spokesperson to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gambari addressed the longstanding suspicions about Buhari’s leadership style and reliance on an exclusive group.

According to iReporter Online, Gambari did not deny the existence of this elite advisory circle, noting instead that such formations are standard practice in presidencies around the world. He explained that while the term “cabal” often carries negative connotations, similar groups exist in other governments under names like kitchen cabinet or think tank. In his words, “Every government, I make it bold to say, has a cabal of one kind or whatever name it is called.”

Gambari further asserted that even former President Olusegun Obasanjo operated with a select group of trusted advisors, citing figures like the Aboyades among others. He emphasized that it is only natural for presidents to seek comfort in familiar, loyal individuals—whether in official positions or otherwise—who offer confidential advice outside the glare of public scrutiny.

According to iReporter Online, Gambari clarified that members of such cabals are not always part of formal governance structures but often shape policies from behind the scenes due to the president’s trust in them. “It is the nature of the office,” he explained, “that presidents must have people in and out of government with whom they can lay their hair down and speak freely.”

Responding to critics who accused Buhari’s inner circle of manipulating state affairs, Gambari offered no apologies. Instead, he defended the arrangement as an inevitable component of executive leadership—regardless of the administration. “So some have more power than others,” he said, “but there was a cabal, and that’s not unusual.”

According to iReporter Online, this revelation has reignited debates on the transparency and democratic integrity of presidential decision-making in Nigeria, with many questioning just how much influence unelected actors wield in shaping national policies.

Gambari’s admission is likely to deepen ongoing national conversations about governance, secrecy, and the limits of presidential accountability in Nigeria’s democratic experiment.