Ibrahim Gambari, former chief of staff to Muhammadu Buhari, says the late president was deeply concerned that he could not fully resolve Nigeria’s security challenges before leaving office.
Gambari spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday.
He noted that Buhari took solace in gains against Boko Haram but remained troubled by continuing insecurity in other regions.
“One of the things that pained him the most is that he was unable to do more about the security situation in the country before he left,” Gambari said.
“He did a lot by making sure that no territory of Nigeria was under Boko Haram.”
According to him, banditry and violent attacks in the north-west and parts of the north-central region were a source of anguish for the former president.
“The situation in the north-west, in the north-central, even in banditry, it pained him a lot,” he said.
“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 also dismissed claims of coup threats towards the end of Buhari’s administration, saying no such intelligence reached him.
“Honestly, I’m not aware of that,” he said.
“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 said Buhari maintained close relations with the armed forces while respecting constitutional limits.
Buhari, according to Gambari, was loyal to individuals who played significant roles in his personal and political life.
He also said Buhari did not believe in imposing a successor for the 2023 general election, insisting that party members and voters should determine leadership.
Buhari served as Nigeria’s elected president from 2015 to 2023 after ruling as military head of state between 1983 and 1985.
He died on July 13, 2025, aged 82, after a prolonged illness.
