Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor, has appealed to Nigerians to allow late President Muhammadu Buhari to “rest in peace”, amid growing controversy surrounding the recent launch of a book on the former president’s life and legacy.
The book ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu
Buhari’, a biography written by Charles Omole, was launched on Monday at the
State House by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Thursday, el-Rufai said the book launch
had reopened old divisions within Buhari’s political circle and risked turning
the late president’s legacy into a tool for “narrow interests” rather than an
honest historical record.
He said the composition of those who featured prominently at
the book launch reflected the same factional divisions that existed during
Buhari’s lifetime, with some close associates noticeably absent.
“A careful look at those who dominated the book launch
revealed the same factional lines that existed during Buhari’s lifetime,” he
said.
The former governor added that the exclusion of certain
allies and the choice of venue were “red flags”.
El-Rufai also faulted the presence of long-time critics of
Buhari at the event, accusing some of delivering what he described as insincere
tributes.
He argued that some of those praising Buhari in death
neither enjoyed his trust nor his respect while he was alive.
The politician noted that the former president was not known
to easily overlook political or personal disrespect.
“More troubling was the presence of long-time critics of
Buhari, some of whom now hold high office, delivering glowing, but clearly
faked tributes,” he said.
“It was unsettling to see individuals celebrating Buhari in
death who had neither his trust nor his respect in life.”
While noting that he had not yet read the book, el-Rufai
cautioned against the “selective revelations” attributed to a man no longer
alive to defend himself.
“Explaining the thoughts and motivations of a complex leader
through selective anecdotes risks distorting, rather than preserving, his
legacy,” he said.
El-Rufai acknowledged that Buhari’s presidency fell short of
expectations, including among his supporters, but said many of the
administration’s shortcomings were driven by the failures of influential
figures around him rather than the late president himself.
“As someone who worked closely with him in opposition,
political, and governance roles for over a decade, I believe much of his
administration’s shortcomings stemmed from the actions and failures of a
powerful inner circle,” he said.
He described Buhari as “a man of deep faith, personal
discipline, and unquestioned patriotism”, urging those “invoking” his name for
political or personal justification to reflect on whether they lived by the
same values.
“My appeal here is simple: to all Nigerians, admirers and
critics alike—let President Muhammadu Buhari rest in peace,” el-Rufai said.
He called for Buhari’s legacy to be judged fairly by
history, without what he termed opportunism or revisionism.
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