Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, Nigeria — In a rare and stirring public appeal that has ignited spirited debate across the nation’s political and social spheres, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has called on Nigerians to respect the legacy of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, while sharply criticising the newly released biography “Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari” as incomplete and overly partisan.
El-Rufai, a prominent political voice and former federal minister who served throughout Buhari’s presidency, made his comments in a statement released on social media this week as reactions to the official biography’s launch continue to reverberate through political circles. The biography, authored by Charles Omole, was formally presented in Abuja at a high-profile event attended by top government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former First Lady Aisha Buhari.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, El-Rufai appealed for tranquillity and perspective amidst the heated responses to the publication. “Let us allow President Muhammadu Buhari to rest in peace,” he wrote, suggesting that the book’s reception had stirred “deep emotions and renewed divisions” among those who were part of the late president’s inner circle. El-Rufai asserted that while public reflection on leadership is natural, it must be conducted with fairness, historical rigour and respect for the complexity of Buhari’s life and service — a call that pinpoints both political and ethical concerns.
At the core of El-Rufai’s critique is his contention that the biography’s narrative leans heavily toward a singular perspective, privileging select voices and anecdotes that, in his view, do not fully represent the range of experiences and insights from those who worked with Buhari throughout his long public life. “Many of the so-called revelations attributed to the late president appear one-sided and unfair, especially as he is no longer alive to respond,” El-Rufai said. He emphasised that distilling the motivations and decisions of a leader as complex as Buhari through a narrow lens risked distorting, rather than preserving, his legacy. (
El-Rufai, who was a close ally of Buhari for many years before defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) earlier this year, did not claim to have read the full biography at the time of his statement, but said media reports of the work suggested it omitted important contributions and perspectives from key figures who had fallen out of favour or were marginalised within political narratives. He also expressed dismay at what he described as “faked” tributes reportedly offered by individuals at the book launch — critics in Buhari’s lifetime who, in El-Rufai’s view, now appeared eager to “revise history”.
Political analysts note that El-Rufai’s remarks, while couched in calls for respectful remembrance, also reflect broader tensions within Nigeria’s elite about how historical narratives are constructed and who gets to shape them. Buhari’s presidency, which spanned eight years until 2023 and was marked by vigorous anti-corruption rhetoric, controversial economic decisions, and ongoing security challenges, remains a subject of passionate debate among scholars, policymakers, and the wider public. Some describe his leadership as embodying rare personal discipline and principled austerity, while others criticise perceived shortcomings on issues ranging from national security to economic performance.
President Tinubu, at the same biography launch earlier this month, had praised Buhari’s influence, recalling the former leader’s emphasis that “public office is a trust, not a windfall” and framing his legacy around integrity, humility and service. The current president vowed that his administration would build on what he described as Buhari’s enduring values. However, that narrative has not quelled dissenting interpretations, with Ample voices across Nigeria’s political spectrum urging deeper engagement with the complexities of the late president’s policies and their outcomes.
Some commentators have pointed out that the debate over Buhari’s legacy has stirred emotional reactions precisely because it touches on lived experiences — both positive and painful — that many Nigerians associate with his time in office. Supporters often credit Buhari with staunch anti-corruption efforts and for being a symbol of disciplined leadership, while critics argue that his administration fell short on delivering security and economic stability for millions. In recent online discussions, social media users have expressed contrasting views on Buhari’s tenure — from admiration for his role as a historic opposition figure who toppled an incumbent president, to harsh criticism over persistent insecurity and economic strains felt by ordinary citizens.
El-Rufai’s call, therefore, arrives at a moment of national introspection, as Nigerians wrestle with how to reconcile differing memories of Buhari’s leadership with the desire for unity and a shared historical narrative. By urging citizens to “let President Muhammadu Buhari rest in peace” and to judge his legacy with nuance and fairness, El-Rufai has challenged both supporters and critics to consider the broader implications of historical storytelling — especially in a diverse and politically engaged society.
While supporters of El-Rufai’s position argue that a balanced recounting of Buhari’s life could help foster national healing and constructive dialogue about governance, detractors claim that highlighting perceived omissions in the biography risks fuelling further division. Some political figures aligned with the APC have dismissed El-Rufai’s interventions as politically motivated or reflective of personal grievances, noting his recent shifts in party affiliation and public criticisms of current leadership. These responses highlight how debates over legacy and biography can quickly intersect with contemporary political dynamics.
Historians and political commentators suggest that Nigeria’s experience with presidential biographies will likely continue to spark debate, as the nation’s vibrant public sphere engages with questions of memory, power and the meaning of leadership. El-Rufai’s intervention underscores the ongoing struggle over how collective memory is shaped and the responsibilities of those who record it — whether for posterity, political reckoning, or civic education.
As Nigerians continue to absorb and discuss the themes raised by the new biography, voices from civil society, academia, and everyday citizens will play a crucial role in determining how Buhari’s legacy is understood by future generations, beyond the pages of any single book.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments