With high expectations from Nigerians following the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election, many are hopeful that positive change will be witnessed in all parts of the country.
This is because of the perceived integrity of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who is widely regarded as a different politician from the typical Nigerian ruling class.
Be that as it may, some analysts have expressed concerns about Buhari’s ability to govern Nigeria effectively without depending on his kinsmen who these analysts believe will exert a huge influence on the Katsina-born former military head of state.
It is a known fact that every former Nigerian leader, while in power, have a group of men or women as the case maybe popularly referred to as “Kitchen Cabinet” around them who the leader regularly consults with before taking any major decision.
During the administration of late president Umaru Musa Yar’adua, there was a group of men around the then ailing president, who were close confidants of Yar’adua. These men were so powerful that they practically hijacked the government when Yar’adua was flown to Saudi Arabia to attend to his failing health.
The media then coined a phrase to describe the men. This phrase – “Katsina Mafia” was what they used to refer to the men who were consistently in the news then because of their activities.
Coincidentally, Buhari is from Katsina State. It is also interesting to note that one of the strongest member of the then Katsina mafia, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi (Yar’adua’s Chief Economic Adviser) was drafted to head the policy directorate of the Buhari Campaign Organisation last year. Kurfi who was appointed managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo , was believed to be the most powerful political appointee in Yar’Adua’s government.
Also, since the election of Buhari as the President-elect of Nigeria, many names from his home-state of Katsina has been springing up in the media with rumours of them being positioned for strategic positions in government, which begs the question…..is the Katsina mafia back?
Meanwhile, the United States Vice President Joe Biden has assured Buhari that the US government is willing to work with him.
This is because of the perceived integrity of the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who is widely regarded as a different politician from the typical Nigerian ruling class.
Be that as it may, some analysts have expressed concerns about Buhari’s ability to govern Nigeria effectively without depending on his kinsmen who these analysts believe will exert a huge influence on the Katsina-born former military head of state.
It is a known fact that every former Nigerian leader, while in power, have a group of men or women as the case maybe popularly referred to as “Kitchen Cabinet” around them who the leader regularly consults with before taking any major decision.
During the administration of late president Umaru Musa Yar’adua, there was a group of men around the then ailing president, who were close confidants of Yar’adua. These men were so powerful that they practically hijacked the government when Yar’adua was flown to Saudi Arabia to attend to his failing health.
The media then coined a phrase to describe the men. This phrase – “Katsina Mafia” was what they used to refer to the men who were consistently in the news then because of their activities.
Coincidentally, Buhari is from Katsina State. It is also interesting to note that one of the strongest member of the then Katsina mafia, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi (Yar’adua’s Chief Economic Adviser) was drafted to head the policy directorate of the Buhari Campaign Organisation last year. Kurfi who was appointed managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo , was believed to be the most powerful political appointee in Yar’Adua’s government.
Also, since the election of Buhari as the President-elect of Nigeria, many names from his home-state of Katsina has been springing up in the media with rumours of them being positioned for strategic positions in government, which begs the question…..is the Katsina mafia back?
Meanwhile, the United States Vice President Joe Biden has assured Buhari that the US government is willing to work with him.
