Since the wife of the President Aisha Buhari in 2016 hinted that her husband is not in control as the president of the country but some individuals referred to as a ‘cabal’, the controversy about who makes up the cabal and how much power they wield over the president continues.
President Muhammadu Buhari in an exclusive with “Interview Magazine” insists that there is no such “cabal” in his administration…
“I am the one who went around the country on campaigns, and I was the one they who voted into the 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” he said.
The President had in 2019 while reacting to a statement by his wife that 2 strong men within the Aso rock are slowing down her husband’s administration, dared anyone alleging that a cabal was controlling him to show single evidence.
Garba, the Cabal’s Messenger?
This insistence by the president contradicts a statement from his senior special adviser, Garba Shehu who said that there was nothing wrong with having cabals around the president who help him run the government.
“Every president must have people who advise him. It is not a sin; it is not an offence to have people that you take into confidence” Garba had stated.
Why such conflicting statements from the presidency? One would wonder.
This brings to light Aisha Buhari’s recent ‘tell-all’ where she revealed that her husband’s senior special adviser, Garba Shehu is the cabal’s messenger.
“As the spokesperson of the President, he has the onerous responsibility of managing the image of the President and all the good works that he is doing in the country. Rather than face this responsibility squarely, he has shifted his loyalty from the President to others who have no stake in the contract that the President signed with Nigerians on May 29, 2015, and 2019” respectively.
The contradicting memos that seem to be flying around in Aso rock, however, proved her right.
The “Perfect Relationship” with Osinbajo
The influence of the cabal as reported by the wife of the president is that of total control of the president. This control was reportedly seen when the cabal seemingly set their sights to the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo relegating the second most important man in the country to a passenger in a flight he is to co-pilot.
The president, however, insisted in his recent interview that all is well between him and the vice president, a revelation hard to believe following actions reducing Osinbajo’s influence.
Buhari had in 2019 created an Economic committee disbanding the National economic council headed by the Vice president. While we tried to figure out the reason for the move, Buhari removed the social investment programs from the office and supervision of the vice president and sacked his aides amongst other actions that showed Osinbajo taking a back seat in affairs of government.
On a scale of one to ten, Buhari says his relationship with Osinbajo is perfect.
“Or has he complained to you? ….Thank you very much.” He joked.
While Osinbajo’s reported dying relationship reality is no joke, the vice president continues to play to the gallery keeping mum.
Has The Cabal Been Busy?
Opera News had reported in November that nephew of the President, Mammam Daura and his ally Isah Funtua are at odds with Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari, following the rejection of ministerial nominees from Mamman and Funtua by Kyari. These persons have been identified to be the infamous cabal controlling the president by several reports including that of the wife of the president.
Recent reports suggest that the rift has deepened and the Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari might soon be replaced by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello a move reportedly promoted by Mamman Daura to become a one-man cabal influence over the president.
While we are still trying to digest the audacity of the cabal, Dee Fire Media reported that former President Goodluck Jonathan is being considered by the cabal as Buhari’s replacement in 2023 despite the denial of the former that he is not interested in the position.
The cabal is reportedly considering this route due to Jonathan’s experience and international reach when compared to the National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu.
Some schools of thought believe that the former President might consider the position again due to his body language on issues involving his party, the opposition PDP and the ruling APC, with the case of the Bayelsa State governorship election and his recent frolicking with APC leaders.
Nigeria in “big hole”
Former minister of defence, retired Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma who was once considered a financial pillar of Buhari and had indicted the president as the “direct founder and sponsor of Miyetti Allah” recently said Nigeria is “in a big hole” and if he says what he knows about the goings-on in the government, Nigerians would lose sleep.
Buhari with Interview Magazine tried to brush over it saying it is the opinion of “one man,” compared to the majority of votes that returned him as president for a second in 2019.
Is it?
How well do you sleep at night despite not knowing? Because I do not.
While the president continues to deny the existence of a cabal, the background actions of persons identified as members of the cabal live with Nigerians.
