Buhari’s cabal planted stories in newspapers for him to read, says Charles Omole
A powerful clique within the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, often referred to as the “cabal,” allegedly manipulated the former leader by planting fabricated stories in newspapers they knew he would read, according to a new biography.
The revelation is contained in the book titled “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari,” authored by Dr. Charles Omole, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Security and Strategy.
According to TheCable, Omole disclosed that members of this inner circle exploited Buhari’s reading habits to influence his decisions and turn him against certain individuals.
The author noted that the cabal would pay for specific stories to be published in national dailies. Once published, they would ensure that the specific newspaper containing the planted story was placed before the president.
“They knew he read newspapers. So, they would go and plant a story in a newspaper, pay for it, and then take that newspaper to him to read,” Omole stated.
This tactic was reportedly used to damage the reputation of perceived adversaries or to sway the president’s opinion on critical state matters, effectively isolating him from alternative viewpoints.
The book, which was unveiled in Abuja on Monday, offers a rare glimpse into the internal power struggles of the Buhari presidency. It details how the former president’s trust was often exploited by those closest to him.
Corroborating the influence of this group, the book also cites former First Lady Aisha Buhari, who revealed that her husband refused to sack underperforming ministers and aides because he feared being labeled a dictator—a hesitation the cabal reportedly leveraged to maintain their grip on power.
Omole’s account suggests that this manipulation contributed significantly to the perceived detachment of the former president from certain realities during his eight-year tenure.
The biography also chronicles other high-level intrigues, including a failed plot by influential figures to fake a presidential order imposing former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidate in 2023—a move scuttled only when security chiefs sought direct confirmation from Buhari.
