Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday night, the retired diplomat reflected on governance under Buhari and addressed long-standing controversies surrounding the presidency.
“Every president had a cabal of a sort. You might call them the inner circle or inner caucus. These are people close to them, with shared experiences, who can tell them the truth to their face,” Gambari explained.
He noted that while such groups exist in every government, their influence is often exaggerated. “Sometimes more powers are ascribed to this cabal than actually is the case. In Buhari’s administration, those referred to as cabal knew their limitations and dared not push beyond them,” he said.
Gambari emphasized that Buhari’s leadership style placed clear limits on the influence of those around him, describing the former president as having “creative stubbornness,” similar to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He also addressed one of the most bizarre conspiracy theories that trailed Buhari’s presidency, the claim that he had been replaced by a body double known as “Jibril of Sudan.”
“I had no doubt at all that he was the Buhari I knew in 1984 and now. That was really quite a silly thing. But the fact that many believed it shows there are people in this country who assume the worst about any president,” Gambari said, adding that Buhari often spoke to him about events from the 1980s, proving his authenticity.
Concluding, Gambari stressed the importance of competent and loyal aides to effective leadership. “A president, in many ways, can be only as good as the people who support and back him,” he remarked.
