Buhari’s Appointees Bypassed Me to Send Memos, ex-CoS Gambari Reveals

Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed how certain members of the president’s inner circle would bypass his office to secretly send memos directly to the president.

In an interview on Channels Television, Gambari disclosed that even though Buhari had instructed that all memos be routed through his office, some appointees exploited the president’s “weak point” to communicate their messages informally.

Gambari explained that these appointees knew when to “smuggle” memos to the president because they understood his informal nature.

“They knew his weak moment, they knew when to smuggle (memos) because they knew him as they interacted with him informally,” Gambari said.

Despite this, Gambari noted that the memos would often come back to him, allowing him to stay informed.

Gambari also addressed long-standing reports of a powerful cabal operating in Buhari’s presidency.

According to him, every government has a cabal or a kitchen cabinet of some sort.

“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,” Gambari said.

He cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as an example, where a small group of people would advise the president.

Persecondnews recalls that Gambari, who served as Minister of External Affairs under Gen. Buhari’s military administration January 1984 to August 1985, reflected on Buhari’s decision-making style, describing him as deeply loyal to his appointees.

“Buhari was reluctant to fire anyone, even in the face of mounting pressure.”

This loyalty, Gambari suggested, may have contributed to the challenges faced by his administration.

As Chief of Staff from May 2020 to May 2023, Gambari had a unique perspective on Buhari’s leadership style, noting that the president’s public statement requiring all memos to go through the Chief of Staff was not always followed.

However, Gambari’s experience and understanding of the president’s nature allowed him to navigate these challenges effectively.