Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, has called on Nigerians to allow the late former president Muhammadu Buhari to rest in peace, warning that selective accounts of his life could distort his legacy.
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The statement comes after the launch of a new biography, Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Charles Omole. The book was unveiled at the State House in Abuja, with President Bola Tinubu, former First Lady Aisha Buhari, and other senior officials in attendance. El‑Rufai served as Kaduna’s governor throughout Buhari’s two terms from 2015 to 2023.
El‑Rufai expressed concern that the perspectives of several individuals who were close to Buhari were overlooked in the biography. He noted that the publication has reignited strong feelings and revived old divisions among those who once worked closely with the former president.
He said the book highlighted factional lines that existed during Buhari’s lifetime, with some groups prominently featured while others who were equally close were largely ignored. He also criticized insincere tributes from former critics of Buhari now holding government positions, pointing out that some who previously blamed Buhari’s administration are now praising him despite lacking his trust or respect while he was alive.
