Prof Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has acknowledged the existence of a so-called “cabal” within the Buhari administration — a group of trusted insiders who held significant influence over presidential decisions.

Speaking in a yet-to-be-aired interview with Laolu Akande, former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gambari said the presence of such a group was not unique to Buhari’s presidency, describing it as a normal feature of governance globally.

“I want to address this honestly and on the record,” Gambari stated. “They say there was a cabal — there was. But every government has one. Some call it a ‘kitchen cabinet,’ some call it a ‘think tank.’”

He referenced former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as an example, noting that “the Aboyades of this world and others” formed a small inner circle around Obasanjo.

“It is the nature of the office of president that they must have people — in or out of government — with whom they can let their hair down and speak freely,” Gambari explained. “Some cabals wield more power than others, but I boldly say: every government has a cabal, no matter what it’s called.”

The issue of a shadowy clique within the presidency gained public attention in 2018 when Aisha Buhari, wife of the then-president, voiced concerns about a group of unelected individuals allegedly exerting undue influence on governance — often at the expense of democratic accountability.

However, President Buhari at the time dismissed her warnings, sparking debates about transparency and control within the presidency.

Stakeholders and critics have long warned about the risks posed by unelected inner circles — often accused of shaping policy and appointments behind closed doors, sidelining formal institutions and processes.

Gambari’s candid admission now adds official weight to what had long been speculated during Buhari’s time in office.