OLALEKAN ADETAYO FROM PUNCH
If there is one word that has refused to leave the nation’s political space and which Nigerians have become used to, it is the word ‘cabal.’
The Oxford Dictionary defined it as “a secret political clique or faction.” Cambridge Dictionary took it a bit further with its definition: “A small group of people who plan secretly to take action, especially political action.”
In Nigeria’s recent history, irrespective of the person or the party in power, there are usually power brokers who exert influence without necessarily being elected. They decide who gets what from the government in terms of appointments and contracts. In some extreme cases, they even do a lot in the name of the office holder without his knowledge.
At least, in the nation’s recent past, as it was during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, it was under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Under Buhari, a lot of names came up as cabal members including his late former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; the former President’s nephew, Mamman Daura; his private secretary and another nephew, Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and a former Director-General of the Department of State Services, among others.
On October 15, 2016, I wrote in my now-rested column, Aso Rock Lens, a piece titled, “The President, his Wife and the Ruling Cabal.” In that piece, I wrote about Buhari’s wife, Aisha, a leader of a factional cabal, complaining about the activities of members of another faction.
In another piece I wrote on August 8, 2018, I shifted my focus to the ex-DSS boss. That piece was titled, “Lawal Daura: Another cabal member ousted.” It was about how the then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sacked Daura while Buhari was away. I described him as a leading member of the cabal in the Presidency. His sack came after that of Lawal, another hitherto cabal member.
I wrote about how the former DSS boss was at some points moving against Buhari’s decisions. For instance, Buhari nominated Mr Ibrahim Magu to the Senate for confirmation as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The decision of the upper chamber of the National Assembly to reject Magu’s nomination was hinged on a security report issued by the Daura-led DSS against the President’s nominee.
In November 2017, officials of the DSS under Daura’s leadership stopped the operatives of the EFCC from arresting a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke, and a former DSS boss, Ita Ekpeyong. Buhari had earlier sacked Oke over the N13bn found in an Ikoyi, Lagos apartment, said to belong to the NIA while the anti-graft commission had invited Ekpeyong for his alleged role in the arms scam involving a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).Related New
The emergence of President Bola Tinubu comes with a new set of power brokers. Expectedly, the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, appears to be the face of the current cabal. During this short period, his name has been coming up whenever things are seen to be going wrong. When “strange” appointments are made and they need to change them, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives is accused of making the blunder. Those who belong to this school of thought were behind the recent report (or rumour) that Gbajabiamiala’s days in the seat of power were numbered. That made the President declare openly on Monday that he has full confidence in him.
“There are a lot of stories going around about what is happening. I have told everyone in this country that I can make mistakes. I have had to hear them out and correct them. Perfection is that of God Almighty. I have absolute confidence in the integrity of my Chief of Staff. All the campaign of calumny and insinuation should stop,” the President declared. This is an endorsement that can be taken to the bank. Gbaja, as he is fondly called, carry go!
The clean bill of health notwithstanding, a national newspaper reported over the weekend that there is growing discontent in the President’s camp, especially among his close allies and party elders, with his style of governance and some of his policy decisions.
The report indicated that the situation has become more precarious with the alleged inability of his allies and party elders to have access to the President, advise him on their observations or even register their displeasure with some of his actions and inactions.
“This development has led to insinuations that President Tinubu might be going through a similar scenario as his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose government was allegedly hijacked by a cabal, which controlled access to him,” the media report read, adding that a new cabal in Aso Villa determines who gets what and who sees the President. This probably is a case of as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Do I hear somebody add “amen”?
Ahead of Tinubu’s relocation to the Presidential Villa, I remember I told some people that the first set of those who would be disappointed are those who are used to embarking on a regular political pilgrimage to his Bourdillon residence in Lagos in the name of paying homage. Those in that category can visit Tinubu to deliver messages of goodwill just because the rain fell or because the day was sunny!
All those unsolicited visits are not entertained in the highly fortified Presidential Villa. Even living or working inside the premises does not guarantee unnecessary access to the President. That was why I was surprised when I read about the President warning some government officials and family members (really?) against attending the Federal Executive Council meeting without invitation.
“Last week, I noticed people sneaking in and out of this council (chamber). People had access to this place when they should not. That is not acceptable. I will announce to you here people who are supposed to be here…Unless I sent for you, don’t come,” Tinubu was quoted to have said. For somebody who covered the State House and of course weekly FEC meetings for years, I almost did not believe such if not that it came from the President himself. How can family members attend FEC meetings? Do they have the Villa tag? Even if they have, are there no longer limits to where people can get to with their different tags and colours? All those different security points from the entrance of the administrative block down to the entrance of the council chamber, have they been removed? Come on, this is taking the issue of cabal to another level. It is not the President’s job to notice that some unwanted persons are attending FEC meetings. Some people are just not doing their job. Welcome to the kingdom of the cabals.
