Aisha Buhari Blasts ‘Cabal’ for Sabotaging Muhammadu Buhari’s 8-Year Presidency

In a stunning revelation, former First Lady Aisha Buhari has accused a shadowy “cabal” of elderly relatives and elites of derailing her late husband Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year presidency by installing the “wrong people in the right places.”

The bombshell account emerges from Chapter 22 of the newly unveiled book From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, authored by Dr. Charles Omole and launched Monday at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. Titled “Revelations at Last after the Silence: Aisha Buhari’s Account of the Villa and the Men who Fought a Presidency,” the chapter details how a tight-knit group—described by Aisha as a “mafia of a certain kind, (with) native intelligence bent to private ends”—manipulated access to the president, sidelined loyal campaign supporters from 2015, and prioritized personal gains over national interests.

The Cabal’s Grip on Power

Aisha’s narrative paints a picture of intrigue within the Presidential Villa. Early in Buhari’s first term, the residence reportedly swelled with relatives, their families, courtiers, and staff who mastered “shortcuts and shadows.” She claims efforts were made to oust her and others, including warnings to Buhari that her “strong character” threatened their influence.

“They tried to push everybody out, including me,” Aisha is quoted as saying. “This is my house. You can live wherever you like, but you cannot be in charge of my husband’s office and then also be in charge of me, his wife, inside my house.”

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Buhari’s fondness for extended family and old friends allegedly left him vulnerable to exploitation. Relatives without official roles gained undue sway, locking out familiar opposition-era allies—some reportedly blacklisted by security. Campaign stalwarts who helped secure the 2015 victory found themselves excluded from the 2015-2016 ministerial appointments, replaced by technocrats loyal to the inner circle.

Public frustration with Buhari’s administration, Aisha argues, stemmed directly from this cabal. “He had the wrong people in the right places,” she states bluntly. “He didn’t change them for eight years.” Practical fallout included shifted schedules, missing meals for allies, circulating rumors of forged signatures, and a president wary of appearing dictatorial who hesitated to act.

Historical Context and Confirmation

These claims echo Aisha’s famous 2016 BBC interview, where she warned that if Buhari’s administration failed, “I will leave the marriage.” At the time, she alluded to enemies within the government “more powerful than the cabals.” The cabal—often linked to figures like Mamman Daura, Buhari’s nephew, Abba Kyari (chief of staff until his 2020 death from COVID-19), and others—faced widespread criticism during Buhari’s tenure for alleged control over appointments, contracts, and policy.

Online searches confirm the book’s launch on December 15, 2025, via reports from Premium Times, Vanguard, and Daily Trust. The revelations have reignited debates on Buhari’s legacy, with social media buzzing over Aisha’s unfiltered critique. Fact-checks note Buhari’s death in 2025 (unconfirmed in prior records but referenced here), and the book’s timing aligns with ongoing APC introspection ahead of future polls.

Why Aisha Backed Tinubu in 2023

The book also discloses Aisha’s pivotal role in 2023 primaries, where she championed Bola Tinubu over northern aspirants pushed by the cabal. Her rationale: power rotation to the South after eight northern years for “peace,” plus Tinubu’s electoral appeal. Northern governors, she claims, agreed Tinubu was the “most sellable” candidate in the North.

Buhari stayed neutral, per Aisha: “He has never… interfered to make anyone President.” Yet the cabal, led by Daura, allegedly schemed otherwise, intensifying succession battles.

This account underscores persistent Nigerian elite power struggles, where personal loyalties often eclipse governance. As Nigeria grapples with economic woes under Tinubu, Aisha’s words serve as a cautionary tale on unchecked influence.