A lawyer and author, Charles Omole, has claimed that powerful figures within the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration allegedly planted stories in newspapers to influence what the president read and believed during his time in office.
Omole claimed on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, while speaking about his newly launched biography titled “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari.” The book examines Buhari’s leadership style, key decisions, and the political forces around him during his presidency from 2015 to 2023.
According to Omole, Buhari’s strong interest in reading newspapers made him particularly vulnerable to media manipulation by influential figures within his government. He alleged that members of the cabal surrounding the former president sometimes went as far as deliberately planting stories in newspapers tailored specifically for Buhari’s consumption.
Cabals are common in Nigerian Presidencies
Speaking further, Omole explained that the presence of cabals is not unique to the Buhari administration, noting that every Nigerian president since 1999 has had a cabal that helped shape policies and influence governance.
He argued that cabals are “not necessarily a bad thing” if they align with the president’s vision and interests, adding that such groups can serve as a “force multiplier” by helping leaders implement their programmes more effectively.
However, Omole warned that problems arise when cabals pursue personal or conflicting agendas rather than the goals of the administration.
Buhari vs Tinubu Administrations
The author noted that Buhari’s government was dominated by what he described as one overarching cabal, while the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is more complex, with multiple power blocs operating simultaneously.
According to Omole, the Tinubu administration currently has at least five different cabals, which include:
A group linked to Femi Gbajabiamila
Seyi Tinubu’s camp
Remi Tinubu’s camp
The Principal Private Secretary’s camp
A group he described as the “geriatric camp,” which he said is led by President Tinubu himself
He said this multi-cabal structure comes with both advantages and disadvantages, as it could either balance power or create internal competition.
Media Influence and Unpublished Details
Omole revealed that he deliberately excluded some sensitive details from the biography, describing them as “too hot” to publish. One of such details, he said, was the extent to which Buhari’s love for newspapers was allegedly exploited.
“Everybody knows Buhari was a newspaperman from his early days,” Omole said, adding that reports suggested some members of the cabal even created or influenced media platforms to control narratives presented to the former president.
He concluded by stressing that while cabals can strengthen an administration, they become dangerous when their interests conflict with national goals, transparency, and accountability.
