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Gambari dismisses claims of shadowy cabal during Buhari administration
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Ex-chief of staff stresses presidential inner circle is normal, limits power of aides
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Refutes ‘Jibril of Sudan’ body double theory, highlights loyalty and competence
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has clarified that every president operates with an inner circle, dismissing claims that a secretive cabal hijacked power during Buhari’s administration.
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Gambari made the remarks on Monday while appearing on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, reflecting on governance under Buhari and addressing controversies surrounding the presidency.
He said, “Every president had a cabal of a sort. You might call them the inner circle or the inner caucus… people who are close to them, with shared experiences, perceptions of the future, and those they’ve known a long time who can advise them directly. Some may try to tell the president what he wants to hear rather than what he needs to know, but all cabals have limits.”
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According to Gambari, Buhari’s personal leadership style, described as “creative stubbornness,” ensured that no one around him exceeded their authority, maintaining clear limits on influence.
He also addressed the bizarre conspiracy theory that Buhari had been replaced by a body double, nicknamed ‘Jibril of Sudan.’
Gambari laughed off the claim, stating, “I had no doubt at all that he was the Buhari I knew in 1984 and now… it was quite a silly thing, but it shows that some people believe the worst about any president.”
Concluding, Gambari emphasized the importance of competent and loyal aides, noting that “a president can only be as good as the people who support and back him.”
