Buhari Was Troubled by Failure to End Insecurity Before Leaving Office – Ex-Chief of Staff

Buhari Was Troubled by Failure to End Insecurity Before Leaving Office – Ex-Chief of Staff

A former Chief of Staff to late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has revealed that Buhari was deeply troubled by his inability to completely resolve Nigeria’s persistent security challenges before the end of his administration.

Gambari made the disclosure on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he reflected on Buhari’s concerns about insecurity despite recorded gains during his eight-year civilian rule.

According to Gambari, although the Buhari administration recorded notable successes in the fight against Boko Haram, including degrading the insurgent group and reclaiming territories in the North-East, the continued spread of insecurity in other regions weighed heavily on the former president.

He explained that the escalation of banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks in the North-West and North-Central regions was a major source of pain for Buhari.

“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.

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Speaking on reports of alleged coup rumours towards the end of Buhari’s administration, Gambari said he was not aware of any intelligence suggesting an imminent threat to democracy during that period. This followed recent claims by the Minister of Defence that such threats existed before the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu.

“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 stated.

Gambari also highlighted Buhari’s relationship with the armed forces, noting that as a former military head of state and later a democratically elected president, Buhari maintained strong ties with the military while operating strictly within constitutional limits.

On Buhari’s leadership style, Gambari described him as deeply loyal to individuals who played significant roles in his personal and political journey. However, he observed that some of those who benefited most from the country were often the least committed to its long-term development.

Addressing issues of power and influence, Gambari noted that every president operates with an inner circle, stressing that Buhari’s so-called cabal clearly understood its boundaries and limits of influence.

He further revealed that Buhari did not believe in imposing a successor during the 2023 general election, insisting that leadership choices should be determined by party members and ultimately by the electorate.

Buhari served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, after previously ruling as military head of state between 1983 and 1985. His civilian administration faced evolving and complex security threats across the country.

While early progress was recorded against Boko Haram in the North-East, insecurity later spread to other regions, with banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence becoming widespread. By the end of his tenure, insecurity remained one of the most unresolved challenges of his administration, despite sustained counter-insurgency efforts.

Buhari died on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82, after a prolonged illness.

Buhari Was Troubled by Failure to End Insecurity Before Leaving Office – Ex-Chief of Staff