Buhari Troubled by Inability to End Insecurity, Says Ex-Chief of Staff

 

Former Chief of Staff to late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has revealed that the former president was deeply troubled by his failure to fully resolve Nigeria’s security challenges before leaving office.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Gambari noted that while Buhari recorded significant successes against Boko Haram, including degrading the insurgents and reclaiming territories in the North-East, insecurity in other parts of the country remained a major concern.

“The situation in the North-West, in the North-Central, even in banditry, it pained him a lot. And he felt, ‘I’ve done everything I can for these people.’ He even said at some point that maybe the base was not good enough,” Gambari said.

Addressing reports of alleged coup threats towards the end of Buhari’s administration—claims recently highlighted by the Minister of Defence—Gambari said he was unaware of any such intelligence reaching Buhari through his office.

“Honestly, I’m not aware of that. The president had many sources of information. The Chief of Staff is probably a principal one, but not the only one. He could have received information that I was not privy to,” he explained.

Gambari also described Buhari’s leadership style as loyal to individuals who played key roles in his personal and political journey. He observed that those who benefited most from Nigeria often showed the least commitment to its development.

On the issue of power dynamics, Gambari emphasized that every president has a cabal, noting that Buhari’s inner circle operated within clear limits. He further revealed that Buhari did not attempt to impose a successor in the 2023 general election, believing such decisions should be left to party members and the electorate.

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023 after previously ruling as military head of state between 1983 and 1985, faced persistent security challenges during his civilian tenure. Early gains against Boko Haram in the North-East were overshadowed by rising insecurity in the North-West and North-Central, marked by widespread banditry and kidnappings.

The late former president passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82, after a prolonged illness.