Why Nigerians Think A Cabal Is Controlling Buhari – Presidency

The presidency has again debunked the idea that there is a cabal within and outside the Aso Rock Villa controlling President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina ruled out the existence of any cabal in an opinion article on Thursday which highlighted and celebrated the attributes of the President as he celebrates his 79th birthday.

The article titled ‘Buhari at 79: Lessons we’ve learnt from him‘ chronicled the leadership and personal attributes that can be learnt from the life of President Buhari.

At a point in the article, the author, Mr. Adesina said it is laughable that many people think and say a cabal is controlling the President.

He stated that the fact that President Buhari delegates a lot might have given the thought that he’s not in charge but Adesina pointed out that Buhari never abdicates responsibilities nor is he afraid of taking tough decisions.

He wrote: “The lessons are plenty. The man has a mind of his own. That’s why I laugh when they say a cabal is controlling him. Yes, he delegates a lot, but to abdicate responsibilities? He takes decisions, and he’s not even afraid of taking tough ones.”

The thoughts of a cabal within the presidency were made popular by people such as the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu who is now in custody and facing charges of treasonable felony and terrorism charges brought against him by the government of Nigeria.

In April 2020, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode caused more stirs when he alleged that the late Abba Kyari (who was Buhari’s Chief of Staff until his death) isn’t the head of the alleged cabal within President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as widely believed by many people.

The former Minister submitted that while the cabal might exist, Kyari is just a member and not the leader.

Chief Fani-Kayode went ahead to list and reveal the identities of those he claimed are members of the cabal.

He made the disclosure in an article about Buhari’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, entitled “How are the mighty fallen,” in which he extolled the virtues of the late Kyari and paid glowing tributes to him.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that at several points in time in the past, President Buhari as well as the presidency have denied the existence of any cabal within his administration.

For instance, in January 2020, during a chat with The Interview Magazine, the president personally denied the existence of any cabal within his administration.

Speaking on the ‘cabal’ issue, Buhari said: “I addressed this matter before. I was the one who went round the country on campaigns, and I was the one voted into office as President twice. No one else did, and no one else took the oath of office, and can exercise the powers of a President.”

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