Who are the cabals in Nigeria?
  • February 5, 2025
  • Jibunma Anthony-Spinks
  • 0

Our understanding of cabals in Nigeria is that they are wicked people. But we may be wrong. Perhaps the best way to describe them is to play the devil’s advocate by characterizing them as necessary evils. Like the statue of a malevolent deity, the cabals take on the character of immovable and implacable super-entities, wielding gargantuan power from the confines of their inscrutable thrones. Once we hear of a cabal, our minds immediately think of some evil group of people somewhere, usually holding a system to ransom through subtle manipulation and covert politicking.

The pronouncements of cabals are comparable only to the oracular divinations of the Ifa sacred corpus whose crystal ball draws the contents of its cowries from no less a personage than Orunmila of the Yoruba pantheon! The cabals do not suffer fools gladly and their word is final in all circumstances. From the powers often ascribed to them, it would appear that they have the capacity to decide who will be elected President of Nigeria not just in 2027 but even beyond.

All too often we hear whispers on the streets that some of the problems facing Nigeria are caused by a certain group of powerful individuals, the cabals. From independence through the locust years of military dictatorship till date, that invidious word has always been out there. The fuel subsidy scam, the perennial crisis in the power sector, the hike in tariffs and prices of goods and services, the activities of bandits and terrorists, government policies and programmes, and political power play are all subject to the pervasive influence of the cabals. They are said to be so entrenched in the corridors of power that even those at the helm of affairs kowtow to their whims and caprices. Curiously, one never gets to know for sure who these individuals are, or whether they are mere figments of one’s imagination. So who are these faceless men? Are they human beings or ghosts? Or is the idea of their existence a conspiracy theory by the proletariat to discredit the ruling elite?

From available records, the term ‘Cabal’ is defined as a secret plot, or a small group of people who create such a plot. Modern usage of the term cabal denotes secretive group with mystical power and often insidious influence. A typical cabal is opaque and shrouded in mystery, characterized by covert gerrymandering. There are some conspiracy theories based on the idea that governments worldwide are in the hands of a powerful cabal.

The term cabal originated from the word Cabbalah, the Jewish mystical interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. But over the years the word acquired a negative connotation especially after Charles Dickens used it in his book, A Child’s History of England, as an acronym for five English government ministers during the reign of King Charles II. Dickens coined the term from the names of Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale (Cabal for short). The five ministers were members of King Charles’ inner caucus that helped him to extend his power at the expense of Parliament.

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “a secret political clique or faction”. Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a small group of people who plan secretly to take action, especially political action”.

In Nigeria’s recent history, irrespective of the person or the party in power, there are usually powerful figures in the shadows who exert influence. They are power brokers and they decide who gets what from the government in terms of appointments and contracts. In some extreme cases, they even do a lot in the name of the office holder behind his back.

This calls to mind the days of what was then known as the “Kaduna Mafia”. Then came the military era of the infamous “IBB boys” during Babangida’s rule. The “Boys” dictated the nation’s political rhythm, revelling in the power of their invisibility. President Buhari had his fair share of ordeals in the hands of cabals; needless to mention President Goodluck Jonathan whose administration would have been completely hijacked by cabals had his good luck not saved him. Despite Buhari’s promises to dismantle the cabal’s iron grip, he found himself entangled in its intricate web. There were whispers of a “northern cabal” pulling the strings from a “kitchen cabinet” in Katsina while he was in Aso Rock.

Often, cabals are perceived as the nemesis of the masses and the saving grace of governments. Interestingly, they are also the reason why heads of government enjoy soft landings in difficult times. If the government fails to deliver, the failure would be blamed on the cabal, not the leadership, which explains why most cabals outlast successive administrations. On the whole, it is heart-warming to observe that the poor masses of this country are also beginning to form their own cabals and they are prepared to take their destiny in their own hands.

*Anthony-Spinks is of the Delta State Public Procurement Commission. He writes from Asaba.

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