In a revealing interview, lawyer and author Charles Omole has made startling claims about the inner workings of former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration. Omole alleges that influential figures, often referred to as a cabal, manipulated the president's well-known reading habits by planting specific stories in newspapers for him to consume.
The Power of the Presidential Cabal
Omole shared these insights during a recent appearance on Channels Television. The discussion centered on his newly launched biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari. The book scrutinizes Buhari's eight-year tenure as Nigeria's civilian leader from 2015 to 2023.
According to Omole, every Nigerian president since the return to democracy in 1999 has been surrounded by a close-knit group of associates. He argues that the existence of such a cabal is not automatically a negative force. When aligned with the president's vision, these groups can act as a "force multiplier," amplifying and helping to achieve key programmes.
"Cabal is not necessarily a bad thing," Omole stated. "The cabals can become a force multiplier. If they share the intention of the leaders they can help magnify his programmes and help achieve much better things. But the problem comes when cabals have their own agenda."
Exploiting a President's Newspaper Habit
Omole highlighted President Buhari's famous fondness for reading newspapers, a trait noted throughout his career. He claimed this habit was exploited by those close to him. Powerful figures within the administration reportedly went as far as creating a custom newspaper compilation, filled with planted stories they specifically wanted the president to read.
"One of the things about Buhari is that he loved reading newspapers. Everybody knows that right from his early days, he was a newspaper man," Omole explained. "There were reports that the cabals went to the extent of creating his own newspaper. They would plant stories that they want him to read."
From One Cabal to Multiple Power Blocs
Drawing a contrast between administrations, Omole described the Buhari years as being defined by a single, dominant cabal. In contrast, he characterized the current government of President Bola Tinubu as being shaped by multiple competing power centers.
"The current one is slightly more complicated. He has more than one cabal," Omole observed. He identified what he sees as five distinct cabals within the Tinubu administration, associating them with key figures including:
- Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President
- Seyi Tinubu, the president's son
- First Lady Remi Tinubu
- The President's Principal Private Secretary
- A group directly headed by President Tinubu himself
Omole noted that this structure of multiple cabals presents a different dynamic. "I think this has its plus and minus," he said, suggesting it creates both advantages and challenges for governance.
The author also admitted that some sensitive details were deliberately left out of his book, as they were considered too explosive for publication. His analysis, he stated, is based on a personal study of how power operates and circulates within Nigeria's highest offices.
