Buhari's inner circle was sceptical about a Tinubu victory but Babagana Kingibe one of the President's closest confidants and a former intelligence chief was supportive from the beginning of the primary campaign...
The last person to try that was Moshood Abiola who won the 1993 elections with Babagana Kingibe from Borno State in the north-east...
His nephew former journalist Mamman Daura has been in London for several weeks and former foreign minister Babagana Kingibe hasn't been seen in the presidential villa for several weeks...
Both Kyari and Funtua were part of Buhari's inner circle along with his nephew and veteran journalist Mamman Daura and former foreign minister Babagana Kingibe (AC Vol 61 No 9 Kudos to the health-workers)...
The following names are contenders but few expect a quick decision: Colonel Hameed Ali Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service: a former Military Governor of Kudana State who is well-regarded by Buhari; Ahmed Rufai Abubakar Director of the National Intelligence Agency: a close friend of Kyari's and utterly trusted; Babagana Kingibe former foreign minister and intelligence specialist: long experience in government and close to Buhari's nephew Mamman Daura and long seen as a presidential contender; Ibrahim Gambari former foreign minister and ambassador to the UN: a unifier with good international network; Brigadier Mohammed Buba Marwa former military governor of Lagos state and founder of Albarka airline: popular and knows security from the inside; Adamu Adamu education minister: cerebral polyglot and worked with Mamman Daura on the New Nigerian; his pro-Iran views might grate with Saudi Arabia and United States; Muhammad Bello Minister of the Federal Capital Territory: an efficient administrator but may lack the required political savvy...
There are the men who would be king: former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar former military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida former Chief of Military Intelligence Aliyu Mohammed Gusau and former Secretary to the Federation Babagana Kingibe...
As soon as Yar’Adua returned to Nigeria last week he sacked Secretary to the Government Babagana Kingibe who was accused of scheming against the President...
After Babagana Kingibe’s sacking David Edevbie the Principal Secretary to the President now handles Yar’Adua’s correspondence and official appointments...
bribe by government Secretary Babagana Kingibe (which he denied)...
However the Secretary to the Federal Government Babagana Kingibe was drafted in to take questions about the new government's posture...
They add that the Secretary to the Government Baba Gana Kingibe is a veteran diplomat who will oversee the most important foreign relationships...