‘I’m A Cabal’ – Buhari’s Associate Isa Funtua Declares

Barely a month after presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, subtly admitted the existence of “a cabal” in the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, an associate of the president, Isa Funtua, has declared himself “a cabal”.

Shehu, who had been accused by First Lady Aisha Buhari of being more loyal to “the cabal” members than her husband, had described members of the cabal as respectable Nigerians. 

“There is no government in this country that we have had that some people were not accused of being a cabal in that government and it is because every administration and every president must have a secretariat.

“Every president must have people who advise him. It is not a sin, it is not an offence to have people that you take into confidence.

“Elsewhere, they call it ‘kitchen cabinet,’ but in our own country, we are being derogatory and we term them cabals so that it will tarnish their own good standing,” said Shehu. 

Funtua corroborated the presidential aide on Saturday during his appearance on Arise TV’s ‘Morning Show’.

“I’m not a member of any cabal, I’m cabal myself,” he said.

“What is cabal? In short I think it means kitchen cabinet, people that you trust. People you believe will not deceive you, that they can do things in the interest of the country.

“Nigerians are using it in a derogatory term not in the real meaning of it. Take dictionary, what is the real meaning of cabal?” he queried.